High School Auto Program Rebuilds Single Mom’s Car, Restores Hope

This article describes how a Virginia high school automotive program teamed with a ministry to repair and restore vehicles for single mothers, giving students hands-on trade experience while delivering life-changing help to families in need.

The holidays bring stress as well as joy for many families, and single parents often feel the pinch most of all. A local ministry focused on supporting young and single mothers has been working with a high school auto shop to bridge that gap by repairing cars and, in some cases, gifting restored vehicles. The effort mixes career training with community service so students gain real-world skills while helping neighbors regain mobility and stability.

Louisa County High School’s Automotive Technology program teaches students practical mechanics and diagnostic work on real vehicles. The program enrolls students in Automotive I, II and III, using ASE-certified courses and shop equipment to prepare them for the workforce. That hands-on environment is also where students learn the value of serving others by working with nonprofits to fix cars for local residents at reduced cost or no cost when needed.

Students at Louisa County High School are learning more than just how to fix cars. They’re learning how to help their community.

The school’s auto tech program teaches 11th graders like Tyler Shelton about car mechanics while also serving local residents.

“We’re learning about all the electricity of the car and how the wiring works,” Shelton said.

The program provides students with hands-on experience working on real vehicles. They repair cars for teachers, fellow students and neighbors at reduced prices.

“This class teaches you a lot… If you can’t figure it out, you just gotta keep trying. It teaches you that failing is OK,” Shelton said.

The school’s leadership emphasizes that this is workforce development and character development rolled into one. Program administrators point to partnerships with local dealerships and shops that open doors to internships and jobs after graduation. As enrollment grew, the curriculum leaned more into experiential learning so graduates could be workforce-ready technicians who understand community engagement as part of their craft.

The program, which falls under LCPS’ Career and Technical Education (CTE), has experienced growth alongside an economy requiring skilled tradespeople. According to Kenneth Bouwens, Director of CTE & Innovation, 156 students from grades 9 to 12 were enrolled in the program’s courses, including Automotive I, II and III, for the 2024-2025 academic year. 

The program’s curriculum focuses on experiential learning to ensure that students not only grasp theoretical concepts but also apply them in real-world situations. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified courses leverage state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced diagnostic equipment, lifts and technology-based learning platforms to bolster students’ hands-on experience, according to the award applications. 

“None of this happens in isolation,” Bouwens said. “Our advisory board and partners at local dealerships and shops open doors for internships and career opportunities. Together, we’re graduating highly qualified, workforce-ready technicians and engaged citizens.”

One way the program develops community engagement is through its service initiatives. Students work alongside nonprofits like Giving Words and Louisa County Resource Council’s Wheels for Work program, which provide essential automotive repairs and vehicle maintenance to local families in need. 

The partnership extends beyond a classroom project; students restore cars entirely to give away to single mothers who desperately need transportation. Teachers describe the reveal moments as emotional and memorable, with students and recipients sharing raw reactions when a restored car is presented. Those reveal events are intended to teach empathy and to show how practical skills can make a tangible difference in people’s lives.

But the program goes beyond basic repairs. Students also restore cars to give away to single mothers who need transportation.

Shane Robertson, who teaches the auto tech class, says the program benefits everyone involved.

“The last one we did, we roll up the garage door and, the moment of surprise, you have to be there to see it,” Robertson said.

Romans 15:1 says, “We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” That idea echoes through the program: those with skills step up to help those with needs, and students learn a lesson about service that goes with the technical training. The combined effect is workforce preparation and community care, not just a repair job.

See for yourself. WATCH:

Recipients have shared how receiving a vehicle changed daily life, enabling work, school runs and medical appointments without constant reliance on others. One mother described the emotional lift of getting a car back, and her words capture how small acts of service stack up into real-life rescue. The testimonial that follows shows the depth of impact for a family in crisis who regained independence through a gifted car.

When they feel like all is lost, Giving Words is here to help local single mothers struggling with transportation issues. For one mother, a recent car gifting helped restore her faith after months of difficulties and depression. Here’s what she had to say:

“Giving Words has been such a blessing for me and my two small children by gifting us a car. I signed up because I felt like I was losing everything. I was just one month postpartum I had to turn in my car due to not being able to make payments on it anymore and temporarily being out of work, and while also having to deal with finding a new place to stay because my apartment was condemned and unviable to live in. I was so down and depressed I felt like I was losing everything. It was so hard for me and I was losing hope and my faith in God, but yet I still trusted him and I waited for something to come through. I kept telling myself he is Jehovah Jireh and he will provide for me and my kids. I waited patiently and in a matter of a few months I was told that they had a car available for me. I am so thankful to be blessed with another car to be able to get my kids around and doing for myself again without having to be dependent on others and get myself back together!! My daughter loves the car and she’s so happy that we can finally go out on our own again. I really cried tears of joy and relief when I received it. It just didn’t feel real and I’m very blessed and thankful for Giving Words, the person who donated it, and to Jesus for providing for me and my kids!”

School leaders note that this mix of service and training leaves a lasting mark on students who build both competence and compassion. The superintendent described the automotive lab as a showcase of lifelong learning and a place where students pick up skills they will use for a lifetime. That perspective frames the program as an investment in careers and community resilience at the same time.