Testimonials
Tom Shelton
previous owner of Shelton Ferrari, Pilot, and Racing Driver
Genius Garage is a rare entity to enable certain students to further explore life outside of academia. Those who wish to be further challenged in complex problem solving or to be involved in achieving certain stated goals are given that opportunity…
Student Testimonials
Brock Hoops, 2018 Team Member
Mechanical Engineering Major
Genius Garage is a place not only to learn but also to grow on an individual and team basis. Rounding out a resume is great and will help any student succeed when they make it to the real world; however, Genius Garage gives those students a desire to succeed so immense that they go on to do great things with what they learned…
Madolyn Burke, 2017-18 Team Member
Special Education Major
Through Genius Garage I learned so much about the world of vintage racing, basic knowledge of cars, and had many great experiences. But as important and amazing as that is, I grew to learn the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone, learning life skills that will help me in my future career field…
Karthik Naga, 2018 Team Member
Technology Management Major
The Genius Garage program is one of a kind. Academic theoretical knowledge is just a base before joining this program. I was so afraid of my future because I know for a fact that the knowledge I got from my college is not going to be a great help in the outside world. Casey Putsch helped me overcome that fear and gain confidence…
Thomas Walbom, 2018 Team Member
Mechanical Engineering Major
For me, Genius Garage served as a ‘multi-tool’ in the hunt for my career. While working on cars and airplanes is enjoyable and exciting on its own, being a part of an organization like this can help your resume make it to the top of the stack…
Spencer Kadel, 2017-18 Team Member
Mechanical Engineering Major
Genius Garage has truly been a once in a lifetime opportunity. Knowledge learned in the classroom and through research is very important but it leaves a gap in the educational system. For me, the chance to work hands on and apply the information I have learned in the classroom to solve real problems is where I benefit the most…
Ryan Beagle, 2016-18 Team Crew Chief
Mechanical Engineering Major
The opportunities and mentorship that Genius Garage provided has shown me who I really am and all of what I am capable of doing. It showed me an ambition to rise above all of my previous aspirations. My story is not unique either, this program changes the lives of all the young people who are fortunate enough to have this opportunity…
Student Ryan Beagle Speaks at Toledo Rotary
Clint Teece, 2015 Team Member
Mechanical Engineering Major
The program is really about exposing young, bright-eyed students to the interpersonal and professional skills they need to achieve their dreams. Our project and time management, problem solving, and professional communication skills were all developed and tested along the way. Whether we were planning our rebuild schedule, fixing an engine issue, or representing the team at races and other events, putting these skills into practice was integral to everything we did…
Chris Scherzer, 2015 Crew Chief & 2014 Team Member
Architecture Major
I had the opportunity to learn many new things, even beyond simply working on cars. I had time to learn how to be a part of a great team as well as the opportunity to be a team leader. I worked on my professional development, having the opportunity to meet a large selection of influential mentors from many different industries, who all had their own advice on what to do in the future to get ahead and be successful in life after the internship and after college…
Zachary Sroka, 2015 Team Member
Materials Science and Engineering Major
A job in the automotive industry or anywhere else, Genius Garage will be talked about the most. So far, it has gotten me an internship with Mopar and will, without a doubt, be the thing that separates me from everyone else in my future undertakings. Casey has truly bridged the gap between education and employment and those who are lucky enough to be a part of his enterprise will be left with lifelong ingenuity and life changing wisdom…
Daniel Miller, 2015 Team Member
Mechanical Engineering Major
Genius Garage has also been incredibly beneficial outside of the racing world. I gained valuable teamwork experiences, such as making suspension setup decisions with the driver and other members of the team, as well as working with different specialty groups to create a winning race car. My time in Genius Garage has been very useful in job interviews, as the stories I have from working with the team show my ability to work with others to achieve a common goal…
Mahesh Chigurupati, 2014 Team Member
Chemical Engineering Major
Taking part in Genius Garage was a hands-on way for me to get experience in the field I had dreamed of working in as a kid. It helped me to show my potential employers and more importantly, myself, why I would be the best engineer for the job. This program stood out on my resume and it often prompted questions like “So a group of students of all different backgrounds got together, built a race car and raced it?” To which my answer was a simple “Yes.” Some believed it, maybe others were skeptical, but that’s what we did during the 6 month long work period in between classes…
Austin Wright, 2014 Team Member
Aerospace Engineering Major
A program like Genius Garage fills the gap between the classroom and the industry. It allows students to get hands on, real world experience that simply can’t be replicated by university course work. Without fail, I am asked about the Genius Garage program in every interview. It is an excellent opportunity for any student, and one that has helped to launch me into the aerospace field…