JOPLIN, Mo. — For Joplin High School junior Drew Holle, taking auto classes at Franklin Technology Center is a family affair.

“My dad went here, my brother went here and now I’m here,” Holle said. “I’ve always been into it. My dad owns his own shop. It’s just something I’ve watched him do, so now I want to learn.”

After FTC was destroyed in the May 22 tornado, students moved to a temporary building in a warehouse at 420 Grand Ave. The center’s auto collision repair program was recently offered a helping hand with replacement of lost equipment by the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The school had applied for CREF’s 2011 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant.

CREF is a nonprofit organization that seeks donations of money, products and equipment to distribute in support of collision repair programs nationwide.

Although the school was not awarded the grant, CREF representatives said the $50,000 grant would not have been enough to rebuild the program, and they have pledged to help the school relocate to its permanent building in a few years and also provide for a wish list of items the program needs by pooling resources and funneling donations toward FTC.

“What we have decided to do as an organization is put our full weight and support behind rebuilding Franklin Tech,” said Scott Kruger, CREF executive director. “We are going to work with our vendors and industry partners to get them the tools and equipment they need in the short term at the temporary facility, and then when it’s rebuilt completely, help them move into their permanent home.”

Kruger said he expects the donations of money and equipment will exceed $50,000, but that ultimately depends on the donors. He said the organization has already received a number of personal pledges from individuals and companies in the auto industry.

“Historically, Franklin Tech has been a great school,” Kruger said. “It’s served kids well, it’s served the small-business community in Joplin and it’s served the entire collision repair industry extremely well. It’s important for us to see Franklin Technology Center get back. It was kind of a no-brainer for us.”

Students in the auto collision repair program learn entry-level skills like bumper replacement, structural and interior repair, engine systems and auto body welding. So far, FTC has purchased some used equipment for the temporary building, but it is still seeking a paint mixing room and vehicle lifts, among other things.

“By saving money now, we’re hoping that will allow us to do what we want to do when we enter the new facility,” said Dave Rockers, director of Franklin Technology Center. “The donations we’ve had will help us stretch those dollars.”

This year, the program’s enrollment has dipped — a decline the center attributes to the tornado, Rockers said. He anticipates it will bounce back and that the donations coming in to FTC will have a positive long-term effect.

“One of the things it teaches all of us, young or old, is the importance of giving to people or groups that are in need,” Rockers said. “I hope that’s one of the things our students learn from this. Hopefully our students will repay that when they’re given the opportunity.”

Even though students like Holle and senior Zack Hibbard won’t be able to use the permanent FTC the district plans to rebuild, they said they hope future students will benefit from the donations their program has received, and they are grateful.

“It gives me a little bit of motivation to succeed in this and show (donors) that they did it for a reason,” said Hibbard, who plans to pursue auto collision repair as a career. “I hope they get all their needs met, have a good facility and have all the resources to teach the kids and show them how to do everything.”

Rockers said he estimates the auto collision repair program has been a part of FTC for at least the past 30 to 40 years. Some of the jobs students in the program can go into include vehicle manufacturing, work for trucking and car rental companies, and auto body repair and painting.





Integration

Joplin School District officials say they plan to integrate FTC into the new Joplin High School building, for which they hope to break ground in May and open by August 2014.