Alabama High School Alumni Returns to Continue Automotive Program

After graduating from Enterprise High School’s automotive program, one teacher is now teaching his own students at the school to perform vehicle service, reports WTVY News 4.

Steve Icenogle graduated from the Alabama school in 1991. Having been a student in the automotive class, he realized that he was inspired by the teacher he had.

“My teacher made such a big difference in my life that I knew what I wanted to do when I left school and I wanted to teach the class,” said Icenogle.

Now, the school’s automotive program takes place within a simulated shop, called Wildcat Auto. Students pretend to clock in and out, and are treated as technicians in a real shop.

Students learn about diagnostics, changing oil, balancing tires, and other basic automotive tasks. The program has also received a grant that will allow for a virtual reality system where students can take apart a car and inspect each part.

While Icenogle hopes to show his students the career paths available to them by learning these skills, he encourages those who are on the fence about their future career to still join.

“Everybody should know how to do some things on a car. Whether it is changing a tire on the side of the road,” said Icenogle. “There lots of things that can help anybody, no matter if you are going to be a technician or not. We offer this class for those people as well.”