West Valley trade school students refurbish city of Surprise vehicle for security use

PHOENIX — Students at West-MEC in Surprise are helping protect their community by transforming a city golf cart into a security vehicle.

The city of Surprise came into possession of the cart after Luke Air Force Base originally purchased it. The city then handed the keys over to a group of powersports students at West-MEC.

The students switched the vehicle’s power source to electric, redid the brakes and upgraded the wheels. The cart will be used by the security team at Ottawa University in Surprise.

West-MEC is a trade school for West Valley high school students that allows them to learn a trade during school so they can integrate into the workforce upon graduation.

The two-year powersports technology program focuses on technical skills for all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and watercraft.

Mayor touts partnerships with schools like West-MEC

Surprise Mayor Kevin Sartor said as the city continues to grow, having partnerships with local schools helps improve the city’s overall workforce development.

“We have businesses from all over the country and the world trying to come to the city of Surprise,” he said. “To have the students here with the skills and the ability ready to go when those businesses come here is extremely important,” he said.

Nicholas Crewse is a high school senior at Paradise Honors High School in Surprise and a second-year powersports student. He said working on the vehicle is the culmination of two years of learning.

Crewse said the training gave his entire class the skills to work on the cart and carry those abilities into the workforce beyond West-MEC.

Crewse plans to work full time for a vehicle suspension tuning company after graduation.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

Related

Phoenix trade school opens nation's 1st semiconductor cleanroom for K-12 studentsMaking shopping for back-to-school supplies easier for Phoenix-area parentsKimberly Yee wins GOP primary for Arizona schools chief over Tom HorneArizona voters to choose Republican and Democratic nominees for top education positionFormer Mesa High School official claims that an inaccurate police report destroyed his careerFormer ASU President, who elevated university’s status, dies at 89