Nine months ago, Art Terry wasn't sure he would see a high school diploma with his name on it.

Quitting school would have made him the first among four siblings to do so, but at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year, Terry didn't really care.

By the end of the first semester, though, the Unity, Ill., youth found inspiration beneath the hood of a car.

A broken head gasket played a part in his transformation.

Terry can point out the location of a head gasket and rattle off with ease the various parts that must be removed in order to reach that area of a car. He can even tell you what the significance of a head gasket is, if you care to know.

"I just want to learn everything about cars," the 18-year-old explained.

This year, as a senior at Egyptian High School, Terry took an auto mechanics class at the Five County Regional Vocational System in Tamms, Ill.

Because he had the highest grade in the class, Terry was given a special project to work on: a 1995 Dodge Neon that had been donated to the school.

It took about a month, working two hours a day five days a week at the school, to fix the head gasket and change the timing belt on the car. And when he was finished, the school gave him the car.

He went home that day and nonchalantly told his parents, J.C. and Sandra Price, about the accomplishment.

"At first, I didn't believe him," said his father. "I didn't know he was the best in the class. He had trouble with the rest of school, but this is what he excels at."

It was his parents' encouragement that kept Terry in school this year, he says, along with his love of cars.

"When I'm working on a car, it's relaxing. It clears my mind," he said. "I learned a lot this year, like to stay dedicated to what you want to do."

Terry said he hopes to use the Neon as a "project car," eventually add some custom rims, a paint job and a CD player.

He plans to attend a Memphis technical school to become a mechanic.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128