$50K Van Donation Will Have Big Impact on Sandia's Automotive Program

Teacher says Rich Ford's donation will give students hands-on experience with modern vehicle technology.

Students in Adolphus Washington’s automotive shop class at Sandia High School were over the moon on Tuesday as they inspected the engine and undercarriage of the 2023 Ford Transit van that had just been donated to their school.

They didn’t seem to mind that the white van, valued at more than $50,000, was a little banged up following a mishap in which the new van rolled and struck another new vehicle during transport.

In fact, Sandia student Tom Gonzales – who is considering a career in the automotive industry – was elated at the prospect of having the opportunity to fix the dented back panels.

“It’s exciting that we have a new project to work on,” he said, a sentiment shared by many of his classmates.  

“I’m excited to learn the electronics,” said junior John Dobbins.

For Washington, who has worked at Sandia High School for 15 years, the significance of the donation from Rich Ford and the Ford Motor Company goes beyond the excitement of having something new to work on.

“It brings us into modern technology,” he said, noting that the other vehicles his students have been working on don’t have computers or some of the other technology that’s standard in today’s vehicles. The donated van, he said, gives his students the opportunity to get hands-on training on modern-day equipment and technology. 

The donation comes as Albuquerque Public Schools pushes to ensure that students are prepared for life after high school when they graduate by encouraging them to take Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual Credit courses, or earn an industry certification or Bilingual Seal. 

Career-connected learning courses like Washington’s automotive shop class are a significant part of that effort.

During Tuesday’s donation ceremony, Rich Ford service manager Jerome Trujillo told students the sky is the limit with the skills they’re acquiring. He said Ford needs technicians to fix vehicles, but it also needs engineers and designers. 

“They need a lot more engineers and a lot more designers. There are lots of opportunities,” Trujillo said, later adding that fully certified technicians can make upwards of $150,000 a year.

He praised Sandia’s automotive program, saying that it’s giving students a leg up, and he urged students interested in a career in the automotive industry to seek him out.

“Come to me. I will help you,” he told them.

Washington, meanwhile, stressed that while his automotive class is a good first step toward tapping into the many opportunities the industry has to offer, so, too, is doing well in their other classes and being able to write, communicate, and present themselves professionally.

“You’re going to need a baseline to be successful,” he said. “It’s why we push.”