When Nathan Boberg, whose son attends Gilbert High, noticed a surplus of car parts at his workplace, he saw an opportunity to help.

Boberg, who works at a Progressive Claims facility, collaborated with his colleagues to donate several engines, transmissions, and even a 1999 Ford Ranger to the school's Automotive Technologies Career and Technical Education program.

These items were originally slated for scrap, but Boberg recognized their value as educational tools.

"I noticed pallets of engines and transmissions in our mockup section," Boberg said. “Typically, this stuff goes to scrap metal, so I asked if we could donate it to the Auto Tech class at Gilbert High."

Brian Grey, the Automotive Technologies teacher, was grateful for the donated items.

"We usually have to buy our own vehicles, fix them up, and then try to sell them, often barely breaking even," he said. "This donation will make a huge difference for our program."

Grey rented a truck from the school district to pick up the donations, which will now provide students with valuable hands-on experience working with more modern vehicle models.

Impressed by the facility, Grey has also arranged to take his students on a field trip to the donor's workplace.

"No other high school I’ve heard of has a program like the Auto Tech course at Gilbert High,” Boberg said. "The vocational field is growing, and they’re teaching real-world trade jobs. My son now wants to go to trade school and become a mechanic, with dreams of working on high-end cars and owning his own shop one day."

By receiving these valuable donations, the Automotive Technologies CTE program at Gilbert High is well-equipped to provide students with the skills and experience they need to pursue successful careers in the automotive industry, according to the district.

Those interested in learning more about CTE programs available across Gilbert Public Schools can visit GilbertSchools.net/CTE.