15 Aug One of a Kind at McPherson College!
The “Tin Lizzie”, favored nickname for Henry Ford’s original Model T, never looked so good as when it joins other classic beauties going through the Auto Restoration Program at McPherson College. The College is the only post secondary school in the U.S. offering a 4-year degree in auto restoration. It’s been described as the “Harvard Law School” for auto restoration. And no wonder.
Located in a community of about 14,000, McPherson College, a Church of the Brethren affiliate has been a pioneer in this field since 1976 when it started offering a 2-year degree with a $2.5 million gift from a local entrepreneur and car collector, Gaines “Smokey” Billue. It has since dropped the shorter degree program and now offers a full Bachelor of Science degree upon completion.
The program has gained popularity with support from the program’s National Advisory Board, along with publicity and financial support from Jay Leno of “The Tonight Show”, himself an avid collector of Duesenbergs and other classic antique cars. He established the Frederick J. Duesenberg Scholarship for auto restoration technology students. He also provides a full $20,000 scholarship each year for an auto restoration student along with a summer internship in the Randy Ema a prominent Duesenberg expert in California.
Another benefactor of the program is the Maybach division of Mercedes-Benz USA, who in 2003 contributed $100,000 to “refine and promote McPherson’s degree-granting program in automotive restoration technology.” The company also established two internships.
Students in the program have come from all parts of the nation, even some non-traditional students who actually take up residence in McPherson while they complete the program.
Find out more about this interesting and exciting degree offering along with other McPherson College information at www.mcpherson.edu.