28 Seniors Studying BMW's Car Assembly Process

Imagine spending two weeks learning all about the business of cars.

From the manufacturing and production processes to the business side of the industry and driving the final product, 28 rising seniors from throughout the Upstate are studying BMW inside and out.

In a two-week camp at USC Upstate, these high school seniors are learning how the cars come off the assembly line at BMW Manufacturing Co. in Greer.

On Wednesday, June 19, the campers will be at the BMW Performance Center test track in Greer to become test drivers as they each take a turn at the wheel, testing the acceleration, braking and turning capabilities of the cars under a variety of road conditions. 

The camp ends June 21.

Participating in the camp: 

• Isaac Abee – Brashier Middle College Charter High School
• Sulaiman Ahmad – Riverside High School
• Asrar Alimohamed – Dorman High School
• Caroline Bales – Oakbrook Preparatory School
• Garner Brooks – Landrum High School
• Evan Bruns – Oakbrook Preparatory School
• Jonathan Bustamante – Greenville Senior High School
• Rachel Dean – Dorman High School
• Tyler Dillard – Boiling Springs High School
• Joshua Dunster – Mauldin High School
• Drake Fish – Wade Hampton High School
• Zachary Girvin – Mauldin High School
• Zachary Greenfield – Spartanburg High School
• Alix Griffin – Greenville Senior High School
• Austin Hall – Riverside High School
• Amanda Hicklin – Greer Middle College Charter High School
• Riley Jernigan – Greenville Senior High School
• Madison Jones – Riverside High School
• Rachel Kluesener – Dorman High School
• Leo Krick – Greenville Tech Charter
• Alexander Luzzatti – St. Joseph’s Catholic School
• Erica Pettit – Byrnes High School
• Larrington Richardson – Dorman High School
• Iesha Spann – Woodruff High School
• Rachel Steadman – Mauldin High School
• Zachary Walkden – Greer Middle College Charter High School
• Madison Young – Mauldin High School
• Catherine Zemitis – Greenville Tech Charter

The USC Upstate/BMW Manufacturing Academic Outreach Camp was developed as a partnership between BMW Manufacturing and the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics at the University of South Carolina Upstate. 

Instructors from BMW Manufacturing include Mark Fendley, Continuous Improvement Manager and Master Black Belts Don Wall, Eric Hayler, Staci Duncan and Veronica Taylor. 

Instructors from USC Upstate include Tim Ellis, Engineering Technology Management; Frank Rudisill, dean of the Johnson College of Business; Jim O’Connor, assistant professor of business management; and Mary Copeland-Myers, APRN, CNM, senior instructor.