CREDIT: STUDIO NOSTALGIA
A white 2011 Chevrolet Cruze waits in Z building to be taken home by a lucky Fanshawe student, who will be named October 21, following a series of Fanshawe Student Union events.

The Fanshawe Student Union (FSU) partnered with Fanshawe College’s School of Transportation Technology to restore a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and give it to a student for free.

“In SAC last year, there was a discussion regarding [giving away a car] and then people began to get more excited about it,” said FSU president, Alan Bushell.

But it was the decision to partner with the School of Transportation Technology that made this giveaway truly unique.

“We didn’t want to just give away a car, it wouldn’t match what we do as an organization … The fact that we managed to tie it in with the school and are displaying students’ work is absolutely amazing,” Bushell said.

Co-ordinator of the School of Transportation Technology Blaine Young also enjoyed this opportunity, as it was an irreplaceable learning experience for the students.

“The students restored this vehicle back to being a safe vehicle, restoring the body and mechanical systems with new materials and components donated from industry supplies,” Young said in a press release.

He says all the students are excited about this project.

“It’s a win win situation, we get a vehicle to work on that is fairly up to date and that is usually a financial burden,” Young said. “This way we got a vehicle, someone to pick up the tab for some of the parts, the students get the experience and one lucky student gets the car.”

“It was a great project for two of the schools automotive groups (Automotive Service and Auto Body) … everyone involved is anticipating the gifting of this vehicle.”

The car giveaway project was financed by the FSU, but the car being restored was part of the students’ program.

According to a press release from the FSU, the winner of the car will be selected October 21 and there is no purchase necessary to earn a ballot into the draw.

Students will be given a key when they attend FSU events throughout September and early October, though they will not know which events will be giving out keys.

The key is an online code that students can enter to put their names in the draw and the ballots are not limited to one per person.

“Every time [a student] goes to an event [he or she] can get another key,” Bushell said. “The more students participate [in events] the more likely they are to win.”

Students can also earn ballots by engaging the FSU on its social media platforms.

Throughout the months of September and early October, names of the 15 finalists will be announced.

According to the press release, the final 15 will arrive at the School of Transportation Technology in Z building on October 21, where they will be able to select a key for a locked box.

The student who is able to unlock the box wins the keys to the car.

Though according to Bushell, the car is not going to be the only prize given away during this semester.

“We are giving away six side prizes: three 100 downtown dollars and three 100 meal plan dollars on campus.”

The final 15 students are only eligible to win the car.

The contest is open to all fulltime Fanshawe students at all of its campuses: London, St. Thomas, Woodstock and Simcoe.

“I think this was a great idea,” Young said. “I am hoping it goes over really well so that we can do it again.”