Southern Adventist Students Serve Community with Free Inspections

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. — Pop the hood and skip the price tag—students at Southern Adventist University put their skills to work for the community this weekend.

The university’s automotive program offered free vehicle inspections Sunday at the Samaritan Center in Ooltewah, giving drivers a chance to better understand what’s going on under the hood.

Professor Steven Oskis says the event is something the program has proudly continued for years in partnership with the Samaritan Center.

“We’ve been doing this for quite a few years… where we do free vehicle inspections, just a multi-point inspection—anything we can do while the vehicle’s on the ground—tires, fluids, belts, check engine lights, and just a general check-over for the owner,” Oskis said.

Under the School of Engineering and Physics, the Applied Technology team gave each vehicle a quick but thorough inspection—helping drivers catch small issues before they turn into costly repairs.

While no repairs were made on site, participants walked away with a clearer understanding of their vehicle’s condition and what maintenance might be needed next.

Oskis says the event benefits more than just drivers—it also gives students valuable real-world experience.

“This helps them learn how to check over a vehicle day-to-day, but it also shows that giving back to the community is important,” he said. “It helps us communicate with customers, explain what they may be dealing with, and do it from an ethical standpoint.”

Organizers say the event is a win-win—preparing the next generation of automotive professionals while helping keep the community safe on the road.