Published: May 13, 2008 08:24 am            

Student to compete in National Auto Body Repair event

Community News

Glenn Buntain Jr., a student in the Auto Body Repair Program at the Somerset Community College Laurel Campus South, won the gold medal at the Kentucky SkillsUSA competition in April. The victory entitles Buntain to compete in the National SkillsUSA event in Kansas City in June.

On Thursday, May 1, during a car show at the SCC Laurel Campus South, which displayed the work done by the Auto Body Repair and Auto Technology Programs at the college, Rick Chadwell, owner of Chadwell’s Collision Repair in Manchester (Clay County), gave Buntain a check to help him pay for making the trip to Kansas City. Chadwell is a member of the SCC Laurel Campus Auto Body Repair Advisory Committee. He has also helped to judge the Regional SkillsUSA competition held at the Laurel Campus South.

“We are very thankful for community members like Rick, who help us to make our auto body and auto technology programs successful,” Jimmy Smith, the Laurel Campus South auto body instructor said.

“This is the first time I’ve been in any competition as far as collision repair,” Buntain said. “I hope I do well. I’ve been working hard to get ready. I’ve been studying hard. I’m not sure what the national collision repair event will involve, so I’m studying all aspects of collision repair from the ground up.”

Buntain has three extra special reasons to try to do well in Kansas City. His twin 6-year-old sons, Ashton and Jacob, are rooting for their dad as is his wife, Yolanda.

“The first thing the boys said when I got back from the state competition was, ‘Did you win a medal, Dad?’ When they saw the gold medal, they were like, ‘Oh, man!’ It was like I was in the Olympics,” Buntain recalled. “I think my success has made them work harder in school.”

“Yolanda works full time, so I can go to college,” Buntain shared. “She is the reason I am able to come here and learn more.”

Buntain worked as a carpenter for many years, but his passion for cars brought him to the auto body program at the Laurel Campus South.

“It wasn’t just about a good job,” Buntain said of his going back to college. “It was something I love to do. Someday, I would like to have my own shop and be able to pass it down to my boys.”

Buntain is very appreciative toward Smith, his auto body instructor. “He’s very knowledgeable. Anything you need to know or any information I need, he’s right there.”

Buntain and all of the students in the Laurel Campus South Auto Body and Auto Technology programs were proud to be showing off their work during the car show on Thursday. He pointed out a beautifully restored 1966 Chevrolet Malibu, a truck with hydraulic door and special hydraulic suspension that allows it to lower itself close to the ground or quickly rise up, and a 1952 Mercury Monterey used for racing at local tracks were only a few of the cars on display.

“All of our students have a right to be proud of the work they have done this year,” Smith said. “It’s nice to be able to show people what a fine bunch of students they are.”

For more information about the auto body program or the auto technology programs at the SCC Laurel Campus, contact Jimmy Smith at (606) 878-4753, or toll free at 1-877-629-9722, extension 14753. He can also be e-mailed at:

jimmy.smith@kctcs.edu

        

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