The Rock Island Grand Prix is the world’s largest karting street race so it takes a lot of work to make the races successful.
More than 200 people help to make that happen and that includes some Rock Island High School students.
This is is the second year Rock Island High School welding students have helped with the Grand Prix.
“It has been a great opportunity for us and the welding program,” said Wade Weber, who is a Certified Welding Instructor at Rock Island High School.
The students help with set up and tear down and in return, the Grand Prix donates money to the welding program. Weber says it’s a large fundraiser for the program. Monetary donations help purchase tools and equipment for the program. Weber says it’s a win-win scenario.
It's also a great experience for the students. The students get to put community service hours on their resume, which is something the trades look at when they’re interviewing candidates.
“The students learn how to work someone, as they are given tasks and monitored by leaders of the organizations. They learn how to take and follow directions and how to work together,” said Weber.
The students helped get everything out and set up on the course last week before the races over Labor Day weekend and will come back this to tear down and put everything away.
