Pittsburgh Review

Allegheny Campus Child Development Center issued the following announcement on Dec. 16.

Automotive Technology students in the Ford ASSET program at the Community College of Allegheny County’s West Hills Center assembled two riding cars, a Mustang and a Ford F-150, for donation to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The mini vehicles were delivered to the hospital on Dec. 10. Two families with age appropriate children who are currently hospitalized will win the cars through a prize drawing, just in time for Christmas. 

The car kits, costing $300 and $400, were provided by the local Neighborhood Ford Store, which represents the dealers in the region. The project came about through discussions between Robert Koch, Automotive Ford ASSET program professor and Skilled Trades department chair at CCAC, and the dealers association, which has donated cars to the hospital in the past. Koch is pleased that his students were able to contribute to the effort. Most of the students in the program stayed late on a Friday afternoon to assemble the snazzy vehicles, each of which features a gas pedal, lights, horn, Blue Tooth radio and preprogrammed children’s audio books. The Mustang also has a remote control.  

“It was a good team-building project, and the students appreciated doing something for the greater good,” said Jeremy Davis, Ford ASSET instructor. “They work together very well as a team.”

Student Braydon Tekula said the project was a lot of fun and not very difficult. Most importantly, he likes the fact that their efforts are helping children who are in the hospital at Christmastime.  

“It feels good knowing that it’s going to a good cause,” said Tekula. “I can’t even begin to imagine how happy they will be.” 

Tekula likes working on the real thing even more than building the mini cars, and he is appreciative of the CCAC program, which has exceeded his expectations. 

“Everyone is amazing here—they’re almost like a family, and everyone gets along,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot more than I thought I would learn, and I’m ready to go to work. There are plenty of good jobs all over the country.”

According to Koch, the CCAC Ford ASSET program draws students from as far as Altoona, eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and everywhere in between. It is one of only about 37 similar programs in the country. 

“If you want to work for a dealer and for a Ford manufacturer, this is the best way to get started,” said Koch. 

Learn more about the CCAC Automotive Technology program. 

Photo: CCAC students in the Ford ASSET program, (from the left) Ed Rudick, Brendan McGrath, Brendan Hinchberger and Scott Parker, place a Mustang convertible onto a lift at West Hills Center. The car is one of two the students built for donation to Children’s Hospital. 

Original source can be found here.