Who Wants to Help a 'Millionaire?' A Labful of Students, That's Who!

Published 09.27.2013

News
Automotive
Collision Repair & Restoration
Student News
School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies News

Enter Sandmen: Education doesn't get more hands-on than rubbing away rust and other imperfections. Kelvin A. Ortiz, a collision repair student from York (left) and Colin S. Geiger, an automotive technology major from Sunbury, prep the Lincoln for its ultimate cherry-and-white finish.Kelvin A. Ortiz (left), leading the Penn College "Lincoln" team, poses with some of the Williamsport Area High School automotive students who will be responsible for mechanical maintenance of the vehicle. From right are Charles Wikstrom, Josh Flexer, Shaun Williams and Jordan Viehdorfer., who accompanied instructor Pat Dixon to campus.The Sun-Gazette's Mark Nance (foreground) photographs Jonathan H. Mongillo, of Bradford, a collision repair technology major, and Alfred M. Thomas II, associate professor of collision repair, as they "detrim" the car in a College Avenue Labs paint bay.Penn College students' progress on a luxury coupe being rehabbed as a Williamsport Area School District attention-getter was assessed Thursday by a high school contingent – including those who will assume upkeep of the vehicle after it is returned. Alfred M. Thomas II's Basic Refinishing class is in the early stages of a painstaking "primer/sealer/paint" process that will eventually transform the donated 1979 Lincoln Continental Mark V into a cherry-and-white showpiece. "I'll be at their elbow, but it's going to be the students' project," said Thomas, an associate professor of collision repair in the School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies. The Millionaires logo will adorn the doors and hood of the car, which will be used for parades, football games and community events. Williamsport Sun-Gazette reporter Joseph Stender and photographer Mark Nance joined the visitors to the College Avenue Labs collision repair facilities this week; the "Millionaire-Mobile" has also been previewed on the district website.