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We love stories like this - students helping out those who have helped them!
The CHS Academy of Engineering, Agriculture, and Mechanics in Douglas, Georgia, exemplifies the belief that collaboration among teachers, students, and community members can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
This belief was recently demonstrated when Coach Ben Swafford, Head Athletic Trainer and science teacher at Coffee County School System, brought the Athletic Trainers’ golf cart to the engineering lab for a minor repair.
The cart's roof was sagging, creating difficulties for Coach Swafford and Coach Keyanna Dawson, MS, ATC, in assisting Coffee High’s athletes. Upon hearing that Coach Dawson was raising funds for a new cart, engineering teacher Jerry Hill asked:
“Why would you buy a new one?”
This question sparked a project-based learning opportunity, benefiting both students and the school.
Students Jake Grantham, Jacob Vaughn, Ridlee Mobley, and Wesley Hood embraced the academy’s motto: "Solve the problem." Their challenge was to restore the trainers’ golf cart, save money, and apply their engineering knowledge. They set out to transform the cart, using the engineering design process they had learned.
The students undertook extensive repairs, including wiring new lights, a light bar, and a Bluetooth sound system, welding the broken frame, building a new lift kit with new tires and rims, re-covering seats, and adding a new steering wheel. They also overhauled the cart’s suspension and brakes.
Coach Swafford’s simple repair request evolved into a comprehensive project involving three academies: Engineering, Agriculture, and Mechanics; Health and Human Services; and Fine Arts, Business, and Information Technology (FBIT). FBIT students, led by Mrs. Kristi Joyner, designed and made athletic training decals for the cart, demonstrating the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The re-engineered golf cart is now a valuable asset for Coffee High’s athletes and a testament to the students' skills and teamwork. Coach Swafford stated:
“When the academies work together, great things happen.”
The project not only resolved a practical issue but also provided students with invaluable real-world experience, setting them on the path to successful future careers.
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