SE Valley Times

Gilbert High School's Automotive Technologies Career and Technical Education (CTE) program has recently benefited from a donation of car parts. Nathan Boberg, an employee at a Progressive Claims facility and parent of a Gilbert High student, identified an opportunity to support the school by donating surplus engines, transmissions, and a 1999 Ford Ranger.

Boberg explained his initiative: "I noticed pallets of engines and transmissions in our mockup section," he said. “Typically, this stuff goes to scrap metal, so I asked if we could donate it to the Auto Tech class at Gilbert High."

The donation was well-received by Brian Grey, the Automotive Technologies teacher at Gilbert High. "We usually have to buy our own vehicles, fix them up, and then try to sell them, often barely breaking even. This donation will make a huge difference for our program," Grey stated.

To transport the donated items, Grey rented a truck from the school district. The new materials will provide students with practical experience working on more modern vehicle models. Additionally, Grey plans to organize a field trip for his students to visit Boberg's workplace.

Boberg highlighted the uniqueness of Gilbert High's program: "No other high school I’ve heard of has a program like the Auto Tech course at Gilbert High,” he said. He also noted that his son is inspired by the program and aspires to become a mechanic.

The donations enhance the resources available for students in Gilbert High's Automotive Technologies CTE program, equipping them with skills for future careers in the automotive industry. More information about CTE programs in Gilbert Public Schools can be found at GilbertSchools.net/CTE.