Russellville City Schools Career and Technical Education Department has recently formed a partnership with Toyota that will benefit Automotive Technology Program students. Toyota donated four brand new engines to the program for students to work and learn on.

This deal came about thanks to the combined efforts of Russellville City Mayor David Grissom, RCS CTE director Natalie Bendall and the president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, in Huntsville, David Fernandes.

“We are very excited about receiving the new engines. They will provide our students with valuable hands-on experience with genuine Toyota parts. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with Toyota,” Bendall said.

RHS automotive technology instructor John Johnson said the program received two four-cylinder engines and two V6 engines that were made at the plant in Huntsville. They have more modern technology than what the students usually work with, and students are going to be able to learn more about the inner workings of an engine than they can when they do live work on vehicles.

“It’s easier to understand how the outside of the engine works if you see the inside and know how it all works individually,” Johnson explained.

About 50 students are signed up for classes in the automotive technology program.

“This recent partnership with Toyota is just one example of the impact the community can have when they partner with RCS to improve students’ educational experience,” a press release from RCS said. “Community involvement is a wonderful way for students to receive support and know they have people outside the school system who are rooting for them to succeed.”