TEP is helping students shift into future careers in auto mechanics with a recent donation of used vehicles to local high schools.
We recently decided to donate three TEP vehicles that were due for replacement to auto shop programs at local schools.
“Education is one of our major focus areas for philanthropy, and we’re always considering how we can help the younger generation and young techs coming up,” said Pete Cox, TEP Fleet Services Supervisor.
Two of the vehicles were delivered in mid-September: a Ram 1500 EcoDiesel to Santa Rita High School in Tucson Unified School District and a 2009 Ford Escape to Andrada Polytechnic High School in Vail School District. A third vehicle, a 2015 Ford Explorer, is expected to be donated to Amphitheater High School.
The idea came from Cox, who learned about the need for newer vehicles from teachers when he joined the JTED/Pima Automotive Advisory committee. The group is focused on connecting and aligning high schools with colleges and local leaders in the industry.
High school teachers mentioned that auto shops had mostly older cars to work on, making it challenging to teach modern techniques.
Cox thought TEP might be able to help by donating its used vehicles. Typically, TEP replaces its vehicles after about 12 to 15 years or 150,000 miles.
It took Cox about two years to arrange the donations. He solicited requests from schools, inquired about TEP’s in-kind donation process, then carefully selected vehicles that he thought would be most useful in auto shops.
Santa Rita was grateful for a diesel vehicle for its Diesel Engine Repair classes – the only such high school program in the region.
Mariel Hall of TUSD’s Career & Technical Education said TEP’s generous donation will be a helpful instructional tool.
“By working on real-world diagnostics, maintenance, and repair projects, students will be able to directly apply classroom knowledge to industry-relevant practices,” Hall said. “This valuable experience not only enhances technical proficiency but also prepares students for future career opportunities in the growing field of automotive and diesel technology.”
Cox hopes to visit the auto shops to see the students in action on the TEP vehicles.
“This is the first time we’ve done this,” Cox said. “I was really excited about it to try and help the younger generation get into fields other than the typical computers and gaming.”
Hall also thanked Cox for his leadership. “His commitment and efforts were instrumental in making this partnership possible, and his team’s dedication to advancing student learning opportunities reflects the very best of TEP’s community values,” Hall said.
