Northern holding homecoming car show to fund scholarships

Montana State University-Northern is premiering a car show during Homecoming Week Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Northern's campus, including giving rides in the university's touring car, The Golden Goose.

The car show will be open and free to the viewing public.

The charge for people to show their vehicle at the event is $10 for pre-registration through Friday, Sept. 27, and $15 at the event.

Proceeds collected from the car show will go toward automotive scholarships for two or three students.

People can register with Northern automotive and diesel technology Professor Kevin  Ruby at [email protected]. 

"I have seen that there is a need for more scholarships for students and being able to do this gives two to three more students the ability to get a scholarship where they normally wouldn't have that, so that should be able to help them out to go to school to finish," Ruby said.

Ruby said the amount of money raised will determine the amount and number of scholarships, and he hopes the event will provide more scholarships in future years.

To receive the scholarship, automotive technology students will have to apply for it through the admissions office. Applications will go to the Alumni Foundation office and the foundations scholarship committee will look through the list and award scholarships based on grade point average and having a good standing as a student, Ruby said.

The scholarships for spring semester will be presented toward the end of the show Saturday.

A silent auction will also be held during the car show to raise scholarship funds. The silent auction will feature items such as metal sculpture art including of an American flag, a bison and cowboys, Ruby said.

"It's going to be nice to see people come on campus and see cars parked in front of Cowan (Hall), especially old cars, 'cause Cowan is one of the oldest buildings on campus," Ruby said. "It would be kind of a neat backdrop for that."

He said it will be a place for people to come together. 

Earlier this week, he said he has local cars showing up like 1930s Oldmobiles and Buicks, a '56 Pontiac, an old International pickup truck, and he has support from local car clubs that are bringing a few of their vehicles.

Trophies will be given to people under the following categories:

• Best of Hot Rod

• Muscle Car

• Classic Car

• Truck 

• Rat Rod

• Engine

• Paint

• Interior 

Ruby added that each category will be judged by a number of students.

"If you get this award you should feel pretty good about it because these students are young, like 18 and 19, so if you got that award then they thought your car was the coolest," he said.

Dash plaques will also be awarded to the first 50 people who show up to the event.

"We will also do tours with The Goose where people from the community can come get a ride around campus," he said.