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KALAMAZOO (Mich.)-Latasha Cameron doesn’t like getting dirty. She goes to great lengths to make sure her hair and clothing are, just right. So when the announcement came that students would be interviewed for an auto body internship at Rushmore Body Co., she wasn’t seen as a likely candidate.
During an awards ceremony six weeks later at the Douglass Community Center as she was handed her Certificate of Completion and a bonus gift certificate for perfect attendance. After receiving them she laughed with Joe Morton, director of Youth Advancement Academy.
“You told me I couldn’t do it,” she said.
“No, I said you might not like getting dirty,” Morton laughed.
Cameron, 15, was one of four students of Youth Advancement Academy who were honored as the first graduates of a six-week auto body course in collaboration with Rushmore Body Co. Students Robert Cantrell, 16, Robert Pratt, and Zack xx also participated; Zack too receiving a gift certificate for outstanding performance.
The students’ assignment during the six-weeks was to repair dozens of dents, scratches and other body repairs needed for Judge Joe Bell’s 1992 Mercury Capri. While the car was made before the students were born, they took it on as a labor of love and experience they will never forget.
“These kids got talent,” said Dan Penn, general manager of Rushmore Body Co. “I am proud to have these guys and amazed at what they accomplished in such a short time. The finished product looks professional all the way through.”
Penn said the students came in not knowing an orbital sander from a pry bar, and had to assemble and organize their own tool box. The lessons they learned however, went far beyond fenders and paint. They learned about the importance of eye-contact when speaking, being punctual, following instructions and organizational skills.
“This internship program is about more than auto body repair,” said Bill Chapman, a member of the Youth Advancement Academy board. “This program teaches students a skill, then teaches them how they can use what they learn in their own lives. It gives students a second chance to prove themselves with others gave up on them.”
Youth Advancement Academy operated by the Ombudsman Program based in Tennessee, serves more than 50 students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-20) who have been expelled or placed at the school through court order. In 2008 the academy entered a three-year contract with Kalamazoo Regional Educational Services Agency (KRESA) to act as a governmental fiscal agent.
The small class sizes and computer-based learning curriculum allows for students to work at their own pace and still receive the teaching assistance they need. The academy’s board members include Dr. David Hutton, president; Dr. Robert Hamel, vice president; Public Safety officer Stacey Randolph, secretary/treasurer; William Chapman, trustee; and Edward Parham, trustee.
This past June, the first four students of the academy graduated with a high school diploma and Morton said there are many more success stories to come.
While the four summer interns were able to see a car being transformed before their eyes, the impact of what they learned was mirrored in their own lives. Their charges for being expelled from their former schools include everything from fighting to making false bomb threats. Their willingness to take responsibility for their actions and continue their education is not taken lightly. They have learned their lesson and will graduate with a high school diploma and a chance to receive the Kalamazoo Promise scholarship.
Already, Cameron is thinking about her future. While she may want to pursue a career as an English teacher and not an auto mechanic, the experience and visiting the Gilmore Car Museum in Hastings has opened her eyes to the possibilities of life.
“With this internship I have extra credit and I’m ahead of other students,” Cameron said. “I can put this on my resume and plan to transfer back to Kalamazoo Central next year for 11th grade.”
Not only did the students earn experience, each was given a stipend of $600 each for their hard work. The funds were made possible through the Ombudsman Program in Chicago. Others who supported the summer project included the Black Police Officers Association, Nicoles and Associates, Ridge Cramer paint and B&W Charter. Photographer Aaron Cantrell followed with students through their internship and provided each with a photo diary of their experience and Pearlie Harris served as student coordinator.
Cameron and Pratt will continue voluntarily working with Penn at Rushmore’s on the body of a 1950 GMC in preparation for the annual Street Rod Nationals at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds this fall. Penn has won many awards for his restoration of cars and the young students want to be a part of that.
While this is the first time Rushmore Auto Body has ever had a formal class of training, mentoring others has been a part of the 60-year-old businesses’ tradition. Founder, Charlie Rushmore trained 16-year-old Ron Martin in the skills of auto body repair. Martin went on to race in Galesburg Speedway in 1960 and win. The photo hangs proudly in the front lobby of Rushmore’s today. Martin died of cancer, but not before taking Dan under his wing, teaching him the ins and outs of the business.
“Rushmore’s has an outstanding focus on quality,” said Marilyn Martin, the wife of the late Ron Martin. “To pass that ethic along to a new generation is something I know Charlie Rushmore would have been proud of.”
