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CARQUEST, OTC Tool Corp. partner to donate equipment

CARQUEST of Wabash and Huntington recently donated $600 worth of equipment to the Automotive Service class at Heartland Career Center, taught by Dean Owens.
CARQUEST of Wabash and Huntington recently donated $600 worth of equipment to the Automotive Service class at Heartland Career Center, taught by Dean Owens. Photo by Brent Swan

Mike Smith, owner of the Wabash and Huntington CARQUEST stores, recently provided over $600 worth of equipment to the automotive program at Heartland Career Center.

In partnership with OTC Tool Corporation, CARQUEST donated a state-of-the-art black light and dye injection set and an ultraviolet leak detector to the Automotive Service class.

Instructor Dean Owens noted how valuable this equipment is for the students.

"This equipment provides us with a visual and electronic means of detecting leaks in the air conditioning system of a car, a process that is extremely difficult without these modern tools." he says. "We are so grateful to CARQUEST and OTC for their generosity!"

According to Kris Kramer, general manager of the Wabash store, CARQUEST'S goal is to stand behind the local students of Wabash and Miami County.

"We want to see them succeed in all ways," says Kramer. "These tools give them a fighting chance in this particular area. We believe strongly in the Heartland programs and feel that they are so important to the future of our youth."

Owens was quick to point out Kramer's generosity goes beyond the donations. Kramer also serves as a volunteer on the Automotive Services Advisory Committee, which helps steer the program in the most up-to-date instruction.

"This is one of many examples of the partnerships between local business and education that are so valuable to our youth and the community," Owens says. "You cannot beat this type of attitude when it comes to serving one another as a community."

Complete Caption
CARQUEST of Wabash and Huntington recently donated $600 worth of equipment to the Automotive Service class at Heartland Career Center, taught by Dean Owens. At the presentation are (front row left to right) Kody Stahl, Daniel Blackburn, instructor Dean Owens, Wabash CARQUEST General Manager Kris Kramer, Casey Harder, John Jayne and Nate Brown; back row, Nathan Howard, Anthony Chenoweth, Jacob Pegg, Austin Blatz, Sean Merrell, Tyler Cox, Ryan Meyer and Briceon Reiter. Photo by Brent Swan, courtesy of ‘the paper' of Wabash County.