Auto dealers donate Buick and textbooks to MHS class

Marianas High School’s automotive class received 50 copies of the book 50 Up-to-Date Auto Fundamentals and a secondhand Buick Roadmaster yesterday morning.

The Commonwealth Auto Dealers Association, led by Joeten Motors Corp. general manager Joe Guerrero, Microl Corp. general manager Doug Brennan, and Triple J Motors general manager Jay Jones, donated the textbooks worth $2,600, while Microl gave away the 1996 model car worth approximately $4,399.

Guerrero said members of CADA thought of the book donation in an effort to assist the community by becoming involved with the school’s Automotive Technology Class.

MHS acting principal Joe Borja and auto-mechanics teacher Sherman Camacho received the donations.

Borja thanked the association for providing them with an updated version of the book to replace the 1982 edition they are currently using.

Borja said MHS enlists and graduates at least 60 students per school year in its auto-mechanics course.

Guerrero said CADA has committed to becoming more involved with the only automotive program in the CNMI. He said the group aims to increase the quality of the program and encourage student participation. “It is CADA’s vision that more of our youth will become interested in automotive technology and contribute their skills and talents to the CNMI automotive industry,” he said.

Jones said the donation would help the students and the CNMI cultivate more local vehicle technicians and encourage students to pursue a career in the automotive industry.

Brennan said Microl Corp. has hired more than 12 students from the school. Joeten Motors has at least 10 employees from the school that also attended the same course, said Guerrero.

The Buick Roadmaster donated by Microl, meanwhile, now gives students of the auto mechanics class two vehicles to tinker with, giving them invaluable hands-on practice in automotive repair.

Brennan said MHS assured them that the Buick Roadmaster would not be used for running errands in school but would be used to teach students on the basic anatomy of cars.

Board of Education board member Herman T. Guerrero attended the donation ceremony. He commended the assistance of CADA “since everyone is aware of the dilemmas PSS goes through in terms of its funding.”

Public School System officers led by acting commissioner on administrative services Greg Sablan and members of CADA also witnessed the event.

CADA was revived in 1991 after being founded 22 years ago.