The work of Washtenaw Community College students and staff was on display at the world’s largest automotive aftermarket show.
Students in WCC’s Custom Cars & Concepts program and other auto body students customized a Ford F-350 exhibited at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event is annually one of the largest events on the Las Vegas calendar.
Ann Arbor-based Extang called on WCC to build out its concept for the “Ultimate Tailgate Truck.” A large OLED television and sound system is built into the bed cover. When that’s lifted into place, it reveals a built-in cooler, built-in BBQ grill and a slide-out game table.
WCC instructor Tim VanSchoick says about 20 students and staff members contributed to customizing the Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat and eight of them joined him in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show. They included first-year student Maria Schnurstein, second-year student Rob Lovins and graduates Alex Pizana, Jason Williams, Joe Woodberry, Phillip Boyd and Trevor Wells.
“The SEMA Show is the largest industry trade show in the world,” VanSchoick said. “If a student is looking to connect with a particular company for future employment, this is the best place to make those connections.”
This is the fourth vehicle WCC has built for Extang/Truck Hero that has been a feature vehicle at the SEMA Show.
“Primarily the vehicle was built in our Custom Cars & Concepts program, but with each custom vehicle we build we also try to have other students in our general auto body classes help whenever it is of educational value,” VanSchoick said. “That also helps spark interest and recruit future CCC students.”
Media coverage of the Ultimate Tailgate Truck:
Tags: Auto Body, Custom Cars and Concepts, December 2018, On The Record, ousearch_News_On The Record