Building an Education One Class at a Time

Ed Willis, 39, has been working for more than two years to restore a LeMons blue, 1969 Chevy Camaro, built the same year when Willis was born. Back in 2006, though, Willis had no idea what was in store for him. "Before March '06 I had next to no knowledge of automotive tech. When I came into this program, all I thought I would end up doing was the motor but it's really snowballed since then into the entire car," said Willis.

For the first six months of classes, Willis spent his free time looking for a decent bodied car to fuel his new automotive hobby.

"I looked for five to six months for a decent-bodied car, and even though the engine wasn't very good, the price was fair," said Willis. "Some guys were asking just ridiculous prices for an empty muscle car chassis."

As he is quick to point out, Willis could not have started this vehicular hobby without the rigorous curriculum of the Automotive Technology division. He notes, "I can't even imagine how much I've learned in my time here."

Willis started this progression in tandem with an engine-building class, perfectly positioning Willis within the educational ideology of "learn as you go."

"What's amazing is that he's literally done everything on his own simultaneously as he's learning it," said Jason Norris, his automotive instructor.

Norris views Willis as a perfect example of the educational process in practice.

"Ed's primarily gone the farthest with the program," says Norris, and "he's been through both engines and suspension class, and before that he did 6 semesters worth of tech classes."

The project is slated for completion by the end of this semester, as the division dean, Douglas Haines, gave Willis a timetable to move the Camero out of the shop and onto the road.

"I can't wait to see it all completed," said fellow Auto Tech major, James Walsh, "It's going to look good."

Willis has become something of an icon around the auto shop, living proof of what students can accomplish with proper education.

"I think the experience helps everyone because other students have been able to see what it takes to do things properly," said Norris.

"You can just walk up to him and ask a question about anything on the car, and he'll know," said Walsh. After all, without the 500+ hours of tech class, Willis would not have the accuracy needed to make such an engine: a Gen V big-block V8, 8-liter engine with over 600 brake horse power.

After the engine, Willis worked on the transmission and then the suspension after taking the relevant classes for each.

He will finish the transmission program by next semester and move on to car cosmetics.

"I'm actually really excited to start a body class and paint the car myself," said Willis.

"I could never imagine building something like this in my life. The teachers here are really unbelievably dedicated to their students and their work," said Willis, "If they can teach a computer geek like me, they can teach anybody.