ELLSWORTH – A group of Ellsworth High School students got to try their hand at automotive work, as the school stripped apart and rebuilt a golf cart for local auto shop Courtesy Auto.

The project started when Courtesy Auto and Brickner’s Auto each donated a Snap-On Tools Blue-Point starter kit to the school, in addition to Courtesy Auto’s donation of a golf cart back in January.

Bill Paider donated the golf cart for the students to take apart before re-installing each of the parts, learning the advanced techniques needed in the automotive industry.

Tech-ed teacher Kasey Bass enjoys giving students a chance to learn through real world scenarios.

“Not every kid learns by just reading a textbook,” Bass said. “A lot of kids need hands on experience, actually doing something to be able to learn how to do it.”

David Lein of Courtesy Auto hopes opportunities like this can lead to students finding a career path down the road.

“Mostly I would like to get them into automotive,” Lein said. “Something where they can actually start a career out of this if it piques their interest in turning wrenches and finding diagnostic.”

With an estimated 15-20 students working on the golf cart, students have learned what it takes to create projects such as the golf cart. Student Cody Paider was among the leaders of the project, as he had previous experience in automotive work. Paider said leading the group was something new to him, and it helped him experience students working together to reach a goal.

“It just gives students really a chance to take ownership of something and it’s not just a project for a grade,” Bass said. “It’s something for an actual business, so we need to work hard, make sure everything’s done right the first time.”

Bass extended a big thank you to both Courtesy Auto and Brickner’s for the donation, saying they both were helpful when any problems with the tools or projects came up. Bass also hopes this is not the last time the school works with the auto shops or other businesses in the community.

“I think this will be a great way for us to continue our partnership with Courtesy Auto,” Bass said. “Hopefully send them some workers, hopefully they can keep giving us cool projects.”

The plan is for the cart to be sold in the Courtesy Auto showroom.