April 2019
Eastman Chemical Company visited Santa Ynez High School to perform a product demonstration on window tint with LLumar Window Film. Jose Pichardo, a local installer for Eastman visited the students to share his passion for the industry, provide an overview of the company and to help the students install the product. Part of this program's goal is to connect students with industry professionals so they can begin to see the variety of career paths that are available to them.
"I never realized all of the opportunities in the tinting business, or that I could open my own shop someday", says Ivan Guerreo, a student working on the vehicle build. "Jose opened my eyes to a whole industry I wasn't really aware of. I learned a lot of new stuff from his visit."
The students are continuing to install the donated products from program sponsors.
March 2019
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, located in Santa Ynez, California is partnering with the Specialty Equipment Market Association for their high school vehicle build program. Students of the high school auto tech program will be customizing a 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport before the end of the 2019 school year.
The program, aimed to provide an educational, hands on experience while introducing high school students to the customization hobby has generated interest from the industry. Many companies have raised their hands to support the builds through product donations. At the point of launch, Santa Ynez High School has great support from the following companies:
If you are interested in supporting Santa Ynez's build, you may fill out this product donation form or contact Katie Hurst.
The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Automotive Technology Dept not only provides students with automotive skillsets and knowledge but gives them a great sense of community. The program, better known as Pirates Garage, hosts an annual car show in their local community, which raises funds to support programs such as sending students to the SkillsUSA competition, community service projects, Pirate Garage Race Team activities, vehicle restoration projects and team uniforms.
The students also spend a great deal of time prepping cars for their Pirate Garage Race Team, which participates in the JB Dewar Tractor Restoration Project, Skills USA and more. Santa Ynez High School students will have the opportunity to develop and master the skills needed to go forward in the workplace or seek additional education in the automotive industry.
Santa Ynez Valley Union High School students will be building a 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport as part of the 2019 SEMA High School Vehicle Build. The Jeep will be sold at the end of the school year and proceeds will go towards funding another vehicle build for the school.
