The 2023 Odessa College Car Show at the OC Sewell Auto Tech facility hosted 100 entrants and had approximately 200 vehicles on display for the enjoyment of all. The show included 11 classes of vehicles ranging from vintage original to modern muscle and trucks, and everything in between, including imports and exotics.
Department Chair of Auto Diesel Technology, Rob Turner, said, “This is just our second year to have this show, and it’s an amazing community event. When the auto diesel technology program and the OC Sewell Auto Tech facility were established, the vision was that it would benefit the general public as well as our students in the program. This is one of the ways that we reach out to our community.”
Turner continued, “We are so fortunate to have community partners such as Sewell Family of Companies and Rogers Ford of Midland who are supporters of our students, graduates, and the program. They also have generously worked together to cover all costs of the Car Show, so that all of the proceeds may go to the Elijah Barrera Memorial Scholarship. This year we raised $13,300 which will be added to the scholarship.”
Elijah was a member of the first ASSET (Automotive Student Service Education Training) program cohort and was already employed by Sewell Ford. He graduated on a Friday in May of 2022 and on the following Sunday passed away as a result of a tragic motorcycle accident. His fellow cohort of students suggested that a scholarship that was to be presented at the first OC Car Show in August 2022 be named in honor of Elijah.
Any current or future students of the auto diesel program are eligible to apply for the scholarship through the OC Foundation.
Representatives from Sewell Family of Companies, Rogers Ford of Midland, Warren CAT, Yellowhouse, Premier Trucking Services, Odessa Fire and Rescue, and the Odessa Police Department were available to speak about the opportunities in their fields that are available for students and graduates.