Journey ends $135,000 and countless lessons later for Jordan automotive students

Those amazing students in Jordan Vocational High School’s automotive program did it again.

For the third time at one of the nation’s most prestigious classic car auctions, Team Red Jacket sold for thousands of dollars the same 1996 Ford Mustang they had restored and customized to win the Quaker State Best in Class Challenge in December 2016, prevailing among five finalists and 55 semifinalists in the six-week competition.

That victory allowed the Jordan students to enter their car in the April 2017 Barrett-Jackson Auction in West Palm Beach, Fla., where the buyer returned the car to Team Red Jacket and donated the $50,000 winning bid to Jordan’s automotive program after hearing the team’s inspiring story.

That gift allowed Team Red Jacket to sell the car a second time. During the June 2017 Barrett-Jackson Northeast auction at the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut, the buyer also returned the car to the students and donated the $65,000 winning bid to Jordan’s automotive program.

And that gift allowed Team Red Jacket to sell the car a third time. During this week’s Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., the Jordan car sold for $20,000. Although the buyer will keep the car, Team Red Jacket members say they will keep the countless memories and lessons from this joyful journey.

Robert Harris is the director of Jordan Vocational High School’s 200-student automotive program and the coach for Team Red Jacket. Local auto shop owner Mike Young of Safety 1^stCollision is the professional consultant, allowed for each team. The 10 Jordan automotive students on Team Red Jacket are Austin Bedsole, Joseph Camacho, Fred Cofer, Joseph Craigen, Alejandro Gomez, Dante Lummus, Breanna Price, Jacob Van Erem, Jacob Wilton and Trennie West.

In phone interviews Thursday with the Ledger-Enquirer, Harris and Craigen didn’t begrudge the car’s final buyer.

“When the gentleman decided to keep it, the kids were a little sad about it,” Harris said. “I told them that we never expected it to be given back to us in the first place. So for us to do this three times, we’re just grateful.”

Craigen, 17, said he had a feeling this gift that kept on giving back would give out this time.

“With all the success we had so far, I walked into it saying that, even if we could get just a dollar from this car, I’d still be happy,” Craigen said. “It’s not about the money but the friendships and bonds we made working on this car.”

Through this competition, some of the students flew on a plane for the first time and all of them gained life experiences.

“I look at each and everyone one of the students and the amount of change that has come upon them -- talk about shaping young minds,” Harris gushed. “I can see a wealth of growth. The maturity levels have risen. … They’ve learned how to utilize resources. They don’t second-guess themselves. They have more leadership skills.”

The traveling also has been educational for the students.

“Meeting people from all walks of life, going to all these different places, being able to eat out at certain types of restaurants,” Harris said. “A lot of students are afraid to leave Columbus, so by letting them see what’s out there, we never know what they can do until they have the opportunity.”

Craigen said the trips to the auctions “showed you that there’s more to the pond than just Columbus, Georgia. It opens your eyes to the world. You look at literature books, and they try to teach you about the world, but you don’t actually see it. We got to see all these places, meet all these people, do all these things. And to do it with ones you love and are close to, that makes it all the better.”

Team Red Jacket earned a total of $135,000 for Jordan’s automotive program from the three auctions. The school used some of the money to pay for the expenses that Quaker State didn’t cover and will use the rest to “totally upgrade” the automotive program’s facility and equipment, Harris said.

Craigen, who plans to attend Columbus Technical College and hopes to own an automotive shop, credits Harris for effectively teaching the students with a rare combination of discipline and care.

“I don’t think they make enough words to be able to explain how thankful I am that God put him here to be our teacher and to lead us on our way,” Craigen said. “… He meant business, but five minutes later he’d love you like you’re his child.”

Harris called this experience “a blessing” for him and his students.

“I know it will be something they will remember and cherish the rest of their lives,” he said.

Craigen concluded, “We ended a good story on a strong note. We brought home the glory to Jordan and shared our camaraderie on stage with everybody. There’s nothing I can speak bad about this team or any of these trips. I’m excited for this team, for this school and for this city and all the attention we got.”

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Journey ends $135,000 and countless lessons later for Jordan automotive students."