Teacher turned fundraiser to launch first auto class

(From top photo) LOOKING AT SOME mint-condition classics during the Warrior Car Show at Jimmy B’s Fredonia Automotive last month were Mike Dimmer, Jeff Huenink and George Pachner. DALE ANDERSEN put a shine on his car during the Warrior Car Show held last month to raise money for an automotive class at Ozaukee High School. Photos by Sam Arendt
Travis Kornely may have only finished his first year as a technical education instructor at Ozaukee High School, but he’s already left his mark.
Because of student-supported fundraising, he will launch the school’s first-ever automotive class this fall.
“When I moved to work at the high school last year I was blown away that they didn’t have an auto’s class,” he said.
That inspired the new-to-the-district teacher to start the class himself, despite funding difficulties.
“The district said they were all for it but didn’t have the funds,” he said.
But that impediment didn’t stop him, he launched several fundraising efforts he said have gone incredibly.
“The district support, the community support,” he said. “In my nine years of teaching I have never seen so much.”
Last month, he organized the first Warrior Car Show to benefit the automotive class.
That was a “phenomenal success,” he said, attributing that to great weather and the event’s host Jimmy B’s Fredonia Auto.
“I was talking with Jim Brooks at Jimmy B’s about the car show idea and he said ‘Let’s have it at the shop,’” Kornely said. “They’ve been phenomenal.”
The event generated double the expected funds.
“Ballpark, I thought, maybe we would get $2,000,” he said. “We got over $4,000.”
That money, along with fundraising efforts throughout last year, means that the class’s $10,000 start up cost is more than met.
It took “a bunch of fundraisers” to hit that goal, he said, explaining that students in his woods and construction classes worked throughout the year to fundraise.
“The kids wanted to help,” he said. “They built things in my classes to raffle off.
“We have some kids that are really dedicated to the shop classes.”
And those kids are excited about the new auto class, he said. He hopes to make it a dynamic experience for students, who will be able to do projects or repairs on their own vehicles.
“The students can watch their work drive out of the garage,” he said. “They get a lot of pride out of that.”
He does plan, however, on getting a couple of ‘shop cars’ with which to teach lessons, along with a two-post lift that will allow students to safely work under the cars.
The lessons will be divided into two levels that will teach kids practical and advanced knowledge of car repair and mechanics, based on the nationally recognized Auto Maintenance and Light Repair test.
Through it all, Kornely emphasized, the support has been incredible.
“The district has been supportive and really stepped up,” he said. “The community has been really excited.”
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