Dayton senior saves schools thousands

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The Dayton Public School District has some extra money in its coffers thanks to one of its high school seniors.

The student has saved DPS several thousand dollars through the Ponitz High School automotive program.

In fact, she is proving to be a rising star under the hood.

A lot goes on in the high school automotive shop and much of it is because of Mariah Eubanks.

"I manage all the paper work, computer work.  I interact with customers, make phone calls, answer the phone, make sure time cards are correct and accurate. make sure deadlines are met, make sure profit is met," said Mariah Eubanks.

Mariah has been the top student in the automotive program at Ponitz High School for the past 2 years.

"If you ask her whose shop this is, she will tell you it's hers and it is because she runs it," said Rick Seither, Mariah's instructor.

Mariah's fascination with motors began as a budding teenager at the age of 13 when she watched her Dad.

She is now the service advisor for the Ponitz after school automotive instructional program.

In fact, under her guidance, the department does much of the repairs of the district's vehicles, saving DPS scores of thousands of dollars in work that would normally be outsourced.

"I can change the brakes, find out exactly what's wrong with it, take steering suspension, wheel alignment anything you want, ma'am."

Mariah graduates this year and in the fall, will attend The Ohio State University on a full academic scholarship.

She will be a marketing major.  In March, she will be featured at a state technical education conference.