Heights Auto Tech program provides hands-on learning

Teacher Jeff Porter, students Maxx Marshall and Michael Hancock, and Jay Hobbs, career and technical education coordinator (from left). Hancock is holding the damaged cart piece that was removed from a broken school utility cart. The repaired cart is behind the students.

When Heights High assistant head custodian Chris Canter needed to repair the school’s utility cart, he called on the Heights High Auto Tech program. Juniors Michael Hancock and Maxx Marshall, both auto tech students, volunteered to do the work. Canter secured the necessary parts and a donation from Southeast Golf Car Company, and the students did the rest—with the guidance of their teacher Jeff Porter.

“The utility cart is basically a golf cart that carries cargo,” said Porter. “Many of the systems are the same as cars, with some differences of course.”

While the auto tech students repair about 20 cars a month, they occasionally work on golf carts.

The front end of the school’s utility cart was damaged, including the headlight. “We removed the damaged parts, replaced the light, wired it in and replaced the front end,” said Hancock. The donated front end was not the same color, so the students also sanded and painted the new piece. “The guys spent quite a bit of time working on this, and they did a fantastic job,” said Porter.

Both of the students praised their teacher for offering the opportunity. “Mr. Porter is the kind of teacher who offers extra opportunities,” said Marshall. “Having experience on golf carts helps us and it was fun doing the auto body work.”

“This was definitely a win-win,” said Canter. “Students learned more about golf cart repair and the school’s cart was repaired at no cost to the district.”

Canter also expressed gratitude to James Slaughenhoupt, the parts manager at Southeast Golf Car Company, for donating the parts.

Hancock plans to attend Ohio Technical College to learn more about auto technology. Marshall plans to use his high school certification to work while he attends college to study engineering or architecture.

Students in the auto tech program are eligible to earn the national General Maintenance Certification, the first step in a professional certification process for automotive technicians. Auto Tech is one of 13 Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Heights High, overseen by Jay Hobbs, CTE coordinator.