Western Wayne High School Administration has recognized Marquis Badger as an outstanding student. He is a senior who serves as the president of the Hot Rod Club. His shop teacher Pat Farley acknowledges that Marquis is very helpful in his classes and does excellent work in Western Wayne’s Auto Shop.
Marquis started working on cars at the age of seven with his grandfather. By the time he got to high school, Marquis had a real interest in doing mechanical work.
“I love building engines,” he said. “One of the projects I am most proud of during my time at Western Wayne was building a 350 Chevy engine.”
Marquis said he did this in his junior year and he believes that all of the experience he had with auto bodywork at Western Wayne helped him to be able to take on the task of working on the Chevy engine.
Marquis also worked as a lab tech in the auto shop and enjoyed helping younger students learn how to do excellent auto bodywork.
“I get satisfaction in teaching others through knowing that I am helping them to have the same learning opportunities I had,” Marquis explained.
Working towards goals and helping others is a part of Marquis’ younger years as well when he was a part of the Boy Scout Troop 102 out of Lake Ariel for a number of years.
When Marquis isn’t helping students in Western Wayne’s Auto Shop, he likes to offer his services through farm handing at different farms in Wayne County. He has worked at a vegetable farm and a horse farm among other farming experiences.
“I love learning and helping people,” Marquis said. “If I can help somebody and take a load of off them, then that means more to me than any money I could earn.”
Marquis is currently learning more about the auto body trade at his place of employment Kizer’s Auto Body in Lake Ariel. He is learning a lot about bodywork and has the opportunity to work on a variety of company vehicles at his job.
When Marquis isn’t working on cars at Kizer’s or Western Wayne, he is working on his 1989 Dodge D150. This is his favorite car, which he hopes to pass on to his children one day. Marquis plans to work on his car repair skills even more after graduating from Western Wayne this spring.
Recently Marquis was accepted into the Universal Technical Institute located in Exton, PA. A representative from the college came to Marquis’ home to interview him and accepted him on the spot.
Marquis is very excited to study in the field of diesel and auto motive technician in the fall. Marquis credits the Western Wayne Auto Shop with preparing him for college and his future career in auto body.
“Western Wayne Auto Shop really made me who I am today,” Marquis said. “I walked in knowing how to do an oil change and walked out knowing how to fix engines and so many other things.”
High School Principal Paul Gregorski is proud of Marquis’ efforts.
“The Western Wayne School District is glad to offer a variety of electives for students interested in a wide variety of career fields,” Gregorski said. “I am proud of Marquis for being such a strong role model for other students in our auto shop classes.”
