Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI), Helping With Horsepower™ and Abbott House share a common belief that project based, and hands-on learning is a great way to teach not only technical skills, but also life skills such as teamwork and problem solving. A motorcycle, named STAR by girls at the Abbott House, gave them all a chance to work together.
Forty young women, ages 9-17, all residents of the Abbott House in Mitchell, South Dakota, worked alongside volunteer facilitators – Klock Werks’ Laura Klock, Karlee Cobb, and Jennifer Bainbridge – to completely transform a Harley Davidson Road King from something bare and neglected to a beautiful custom motorcycle. The girls work hands-on throughout the Helping With Horsepower™ Bike Rebuild Program, from creating a special 75th Anniversary design, to choosing fender and handlebar options and installing new parts. Because this motorcycle will help the Abbott House celebrate its 75th Anniversary, it was made even more special by adding a vintage style sidecar to symbolize the power and impact the Abbott House has had on children and their families for 75 years.
“The addition of the sidecar offered us some extra challenges because of the limited facilities and tools we have available at Abbott House,” stated Laura Klock, Founder of The Helping With Horsepower™ Bike Rebuild Program. “Our curriculum encourages community involvement, so we reached out to the MTI Power Sports program directors to see if they would be interested in helping us with some final details, and it worked out great!”
“Students in our Power Sports Technology program experience hands-on learning through service and repair of motorcycles, scooters, snowmobiles, ATV’s, four-wheelers and more in MTI’s state-of-the-art labs,” said Chris Degen, MTI Power Sports Instructor. “The checklist that needed to be completed on the Abbott House bike included some electrical wiring on the sidecar, a few service items, and mounting new tires, which fits perfectly with the types of opportunities we strive to provide our students.”
The motorcycle has received it’s final inspection and after being on tour all summer raising awareness for Abbott House, and raising funds through raffle ticket sales, it is ready to go to its “forever family”. The winner of STAR will be drawn as part of the Abbott House 75th Anniversary Celebration on November 15, 2014. Billy Mills, former South Dakotan and 1964 10,000 Meter Olympic Gold Medalist, is the special guest speaker at the event. Tickets will continue to be sold until 12:00 pm CST on Saturday, the 15th of November and are available online at www.abbotthouse.org. Banquet tickets can be purchased by calling 605-996-2486or emailing deidraw@abbotthousesd.com.
