A student program supported by SEMA is awaiting results of an auction that will fund it into the future. More than 100 students contributed to building a custom 2015 4WD Jeep Wrangler Unlimited through the Santa Fe Early College Opportunities (ECO) Auto Shop program in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Students for nearly six months oversaw and executed the entire project vehicle build, including tracking time, expenses and associated resources, using a pre-owned vehicle purchased and donated by SEMA.
“The final build is amazing,” said Zane Clark, SEMA Senior Director of Education. “Our hope was to provide students with a unique experience that would educate and inspire future industry professionals, and the end result is a top-quality vehicle that looks great and performs remarkably.”
The Jeep will be auctioned online later this month through Bring-A-Trailer. All proceeds will be allocated for creating a sustainable program for the Santa Fe ECO. The program educates students about vehicle builds and careers in the automotive industry.
The modified four-wheel-drive Jeep features the following upgrades and product donations: Magnum grip shift handle kit part, front nodular iron differential cover, rear nodular iron differential cover donated by B&M and Driven Performance Brands; bumpers, inner fender liners, slider steps donated by Bodyguard Truck Accessories; supercharger kit donated by Edelbrock; cat-back system 409s-single rear exit American Thunder donated by Flowmaster and Driven Performance Brands; 4.5-inch stage 3 suspension kit and wheels donated by ICON Vehicle Dynamics; air intake with snorkel system, oil filter, cabin air filter donated by K&N Engineering; light package donated by Metra; and a tire carrier, vented hood, hood catches, antenna donated by Rugged Ridge and Truck Hero.
“The students gained valuable hands-on experience that they could not get in the classroom,” said Chris Coriz, instructor at the Santa Fe ECO. “We’re excited to see the vehicle move on to the auction block and raise funds to begin the next project,”
Potential buyers of the Jeep are encouraged to create an account on Bring-A-Trailer in advance to prevent delays or glitches once bidding opens.
