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MTI Power Sports Students Assist with Helping With Horsepower™ “STAR” Motorcycle

IMG_0271(Mitchell, SD) November 14, 2014 – 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 75thAnniversary 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 605-996-2486 or emailing deidraw@abbotthousesd.com.

About Helping With Horsepower™

Helping with Horsepower™ designs volunteer programs that empower and encourage, and raise funds for charity, including the nationally recognized Helping With Horsepower™ Bike Rebuild Program. The hands-on Bike Rebuild Program has been used in eight other states across the country as a non-traditional way to help at-risk youth learn how to overcome life’s obstacles and develop skills they will use in their future.

About The Abbott House

Abbott House is a private charity that provides residential treatment services to girls between the age of 9 and 18 years old. The agency provides intensive treatment and foster care in a therapeutic home. The Abbott House is truly dedicated to providing services that promote personal development and foster responsible participation with others to children and families.

About Mitchell Technical Institute

Located in Mitchell, South Dakota, Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI) provides high-quality Associate of Applied Science degree and diploma programs which prepare students for occupational success. Chartered in 1966, Mitchell Technical Institute opened in September 1968 as part of a statewide system of four technical institutes. More than 16,000 students have graduated since that time. MTI is fully accredited, ensuring access to financial aid, boasts 99% job placement rate for its graduates, and is ranked in the top 150 of America’s two-year colleges by the Aspen Institute. Offering 30 on-campus academic programs and 7 online programs, it is also one of the newest campuses in the region, all in one convenient location.

For More Information please Contact Laura Klock at Laura@kustomcycles.com?

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