SEMA, Bring a Trailer partner to auction student-built Jeep Wranglers, raising funds for SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program

The future of the car hobby depends on sparking interest among young generations, and SEMA, the trade association serving the automotive aftermarket parts industry, supports efforts to do just that through initiatives like the SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program.

Just this week, SEMA announced that, with the help of auction website Bring a Trailer, they infused a fresh $130,000 to fund that program by auctioning the latest round of builds: five Jeep Wranglers customized by high school students across the U.S., from Virginia to New Mexico.

Five high schools that participated in the auction received the Jeeps in February, for use as student customization projects using aftermarket products donated by sponsoring companies. After the projects were completed, the vehicles were auctioned on Bring a Trailer during the SEMA Week of Customs (July 15-27), generating the following results:

• 2005 Jeep Wrangler customized by the Santa Fe Early College Opportunities (ECO) in Santa Fe, NM. Sold for $26,000.
• 2004 Jeep Wrangler customized by the Comstock High School auto shop in Kalamazoo, MI. Sold for $20,250.
• 1997 Jeep Wrangler customized by Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in Santa Ynez, CA. Sold for $26,250.
• 2002 Jeep Wrangler customized by C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA. Sold for $26,000.
• 2004 Jeep Wrangler customized by R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, TX. Sold for $28,500.

Buyer fees kicked in by Bring a Trailer totaled $6,350, upping the total to $133,350 in sales to help fund the student program.

“We are thrilled by the results of the auctions and moved by how much the automotive community continues to support this program,” said Zane Clark, SEMA Senior Director of Education. “Thanks to this support we are now looking to expand the program to include 10 schools next year, giving more students throughout the country an opportunity to take part in a hands-on vehicle build experience.”

“We at Bring a Trailer were very excited to partner again with SEMA to auction these special custom Jeeps,” said Randy Nonnenberg, Bring a Trailer Co-founder & CEO. “Young enthusiasts are key to the future of the automotive hobby, and we applaud SEMA for furthering their investment in this program and these students. We are very happy to again be donating our entire 5% auction fees on these Jeeps to the same great cause.”

SEMA spokesman Juan Torres told AutoNewsblaster that the SEMA High School Vehicle Build program began in 2018 as a pilot program with only one high school, in New Mexico, participating.

“The success of the pilot program resulted in the expansion of the program,” Torres related. “Now we’re looking to expand the program to 10 schools in 2020.”