A 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac was donated this month to the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center by Rick Wilkerson so students have a more current vehicle to practice servicing.
“For us, to be able to teach them with a computer that interfaces with the car, that’s a must,” auto mechanics instructor Steven Layman said. “You need modern vehicles to give students modern problems to work through.”
Layman, who started at the TCC during the 2019/20 school year, served as a wheeled vehicle mechanic for the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army straight out of high school and later earned an auto mechanics degree from Minneapolis Technical College. Since 2008, he worked as service manager at Raben Tire, before which he was an auto technician in Minnesota.
While the TCC has acquired other automobiles for teaching practical skills over the past few years, including a pair of out-of-service vehicles from the district, none of the present fleet have front-wheel drive. To connect an OBD2 scanner to a self-diagnostic system, the teacher explained, the program often relies on students to bring in their own means of transportation to repair.
“Mr. Layman has even used his personal vehicle to take apart several times, which you don’t want to do too often,” mentioned Charles Kinsey, TCC director. “This’ll be very good in terms of diagnostics, and creating scenarios for the kids to learn.”
The hope, according to Laymen, is to solicit a donation every couple of years at least so students can receive hands-on experience before the vehicle exceeds its lifespan. For more information, call the TCC at 573-785-2248.
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Cutline: TCC Director Charles Kinsey (left) recently accepts a truck donation from Rick Wilkerson of Poplar Bluff.