Collectors Foundation 2010 Collections Management Internship Grant Awarded
Alex McMillan, South Seattle Community College

Alex is a native of the Pacific Northwest, born and raised in Bothell, Washington. The son of a high school woodshop teacher, Alex has always enjoyed working with his hands.  His first vehicle was a go-cart that his father bought from a fellow teacher.  It was built on a wooden frame and took two people to drive.  Powered by a Briggs & Stratton 4 h.p. flathead engine (the first engine Alex rebuilt), the cart would go almost as fast as walking speed which was good as the cart had no brakes!

Alex’s introduction to cars was in the neighbor’s backyard body shop/garage.  He would spend weekends and evenings there observing the operation from engine rebuild to full paint jobs.  Alex continued leaning the basics of auto repair in the schools auto shop program.  Later, while working at a local auto recycler and then while continuing on with a career in the construction industry, Alex would fix and sell cars and motorcycles as a hobby.  The recent collapse of the building industry in the Northwest gave Alex the opportunity to enroll in the Automotive Collision and Repair program at South Seattle Community College.

As part of his advanced course work at the College, he performed a full restoration of a 1972 MG Midget.  Currently in his final semester at South Seattle Community College Automotive Technology Department, Alex’s application came highly recommended to the LeMay Museum’s Collection Manager from his instructor at the College, Steve Ford.  Alex is deeply honored to have been selected as this year’s intern to the LeMay Museum, and has been working with the Museum Conservator utilizing new systems for preserving and stabilizing Museum vehicles in preparation for the move into the new LeMay-America's Car Museum building in Tacoma the Fall of 2011.

Recently, Alex was able to meet Ken Gross, Collectors Foundation Board Member and currently the Guest Curator for America’s Car Museum.  Alex used the opportunity to discuss what an amazing experience working with LeMay has been for him.

The LeMay Museum wishes to thank the Collectors Foundation for their substantial financial support which makes this internship possible.  Collectors Foundation is an educational grant-making organization founded by Hagerty Insurance and funded by collector vehicle and classic boat enthusiast to serve youth development and the long-term interest of the collector vehicle and classic boat communities.   For more information about the Collectors Foundation, please visit www.collectorsfoundation.org.