Growing Kings and Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers Boutwell Event

During the month of November, Growing Kings had the pleasure of having Express Oil Change & Tire Change Engineers lead sessions for 7th & 8th graders in the Measures of a Man program. Corporate Ambassador of Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers Fred Johnston, and automobile technicians with Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers partnered with Growing Kings to teach the boys about basic car maintenance.

Over a two-week period, young boys from Hudson K-8, Inglenook K-8, Washington K-8, and Wilkerson Middle School were taught the significance of different car fluids, while the 8th graders were learned about tire maintenance. The first week of sessions were in-class; the 2nd week gave the boys a chance to put to test the skills they learned during an event at the Boutwell Auditorium.

Laughter and excitement filled the auditorium, as the young boys got to work on cars provided by Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers. The young men visited different stations that featured different automobile makes and models; from sedan to sports utility vehicles. Each station presented students with a different task to perform based on the lessons they learned during their in-class sessions.

Fred Johnston’s station may not have had a cool car for the boys to work on, but that didn’t prevent his table from being the most popular station. “I love working with young people, especially those interested in what we do. If I were boring I would have lost their attention, so I try to give them a show to keep them engaged, but I make sure they learn a little something while I’m at it,” stated Mr. Johnston.

Quinton Little, a manager at Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers in Bessemer, Alabama got to work on his Dodge Challenger with his nephew, who is a student enrolled in the Measures of a Man program at Wilkerson Middle School. “I was really excited to see that my nephew was enrolled in this program. These boys gain so much from being involved with an organization like Growing Kings, ” said Mr. Little. “One of the highlights of my life will always be the day I got to work on my car with my nephew on the floor of the Boutwell Auditorium. How cool is that?!”

Growing Kings would like to thank Mr. Fred Johnston, Ms. Kelly Baker, Mr. Quinton Little, Mr. Michael Johnston, Mr. Mark Barrett, and Mr. Jeff Free of Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers for making this event a success.

Special thanks to our mentors Marteze Ford, Mel Robinson, Austin Senseman, and Growing Kings volunteer Lakiesha Watts for your participation and support.