Angela Gillespie is December's Hilbish Ford Outstanding Teacher

"Angela Gillespie is an amazing 4th grade teacher at Jackson Park Elementary! Her students excel academically but her excellence and caring go far beyond the classroom. The parent that nominated her explained how Mrs. Gillespie visited their home as a way of connecting with the student and the family. However, what made the visit even more special is that Mrs. Gillespie came just days after experiencing the loss of someone within her own family. The parent said the visit was not planned or requested. Mrs. Gillespie simply did it because she cares that much about her students and wants to make genuine connections with families. The parent went on to describe being in Mrs. Gillespie’s classroom. She said she could feel the love that exists between Mrs. Gillespie and her students. She said she heard one student comment that Mrs. Gillespie was a big part his life and said he hoped he would grow up to make her proud one day. The parent calls Mrs. Gillespie an extraordinary teacher who gives part of herself to her students and will do whatever it takes to help them succeed.

Angela Gillespie makes all of us in Kannapolis City Schools very proud. We’re delighted that she is part of our KCS family, and we are pleased that Hilbish Ford is honoring her with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. Congratulations!"

Original article by Kannapolis City Schools

Tiffany Fulton named Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month

Congratulations to the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for Kannapolis City Schools, Tiffany Fulton!

"Tiffany Fulton is a very special and highly talented English teacher at A.L. Brown High School. Six different students nominated her for this award. They talked about her outstanding teaching, but they also talked about what a wonderful person she is. One student said, “She's a ray of sunshine even when I'm not feeling my best. She is so kind and energetic that she makes me WANT to learn—because I want to make her proud.” Another student praised Mrs. Fulton for always having a smile on her face and being optimistic. That student said Mrs. Fulton helped her come out of her comfort zone which made her a better person and less anxious when she had to share in front of a group. All the students said Mrs. Fulton made learning fun and made them want to come to school each day. One seemed to sum it up for all of them when she said, “I love her energy and cheerfulness, which never gets old. She's awesome, and I love her.”

Tiffany Fulton makes all of us in Kannapolis City Schools very proud. We’re delighted that she is part of our KCS family, and we are pleased that Hilbish Ford is honoring her excellence with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. Congratulations!"

Click here to view original article by Kannapolis City Schools.

Hilbish Ford introduces new Student Athletes of the Week program to local schools

Each month, Hilbish Ford in Kannapolis honors local school teachers who make a difference in their students’ lives.

Because Hilbish Ford employees care about education and sports in our community, we are proud to announce the new Hilbish Student Athletes of the Week program. Each week, high school coaches nominate and select two outstanding student athletes who embody important character traits including honesty, sportsmanship, perseverance, kindness and responsibility.

High school students are chosen from Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools and can include student athletes from any sport.

Hilbish Ford General Manager Timothy Vaughn said the idea started when a parent approached him after seeing a similar program elsewhere. After their conversation, “I reached out to the school system superintendents and the systems’ athletic directors,” said Vaughn. “They loved the idea and we decided to do a male and female athlete of the week at the high schools.”

Each school athletic director submits two student athletes to a committee that includes school representatives. Because Kannapolis City Schools only has one high school, they submit two times per month. Cabarrus County high schools may submit weekly. The committee then chooses the male and female winner. No representative from Hilbish Ford sits on the selection committee.

Once selected, the winners receive a nice travel cup with their name embossed on it with the Hilbish Ford logo on the back. 

“It can be used or displayed,” said Vaughn. “We actually see the kids’ moms taking them for themselves and using them as a walking trophy to brag about their kids.”

Last week, Hilbish Ford recognized the first Student Athletes of the Week – Rami Mullen and Dylan Ratliff, both seniors at Hickory Ridge High School.

Volleyball Coach Patti Chason, Maggie Mullen, Andrea Mullen, Rami Mullen, Hilbish Ford GM Timothy Vaughn, 
Dylan Ratliff, Jenni Ratliff, Football Coach Jason Seidel

• Rami is the co-captain and setter of her volleyball team at Hickory Ridge. She is a strong defensive player and was instrumental in HRHS clinching the SW4A Conference Championship earlier this month.
  
  
• Dylan is a quarterback on the football team, completing 280 passing yards in a win over Rocky Ridge High School and, as of last week, had four touchdown passes. 

Student Athletes of the Week aren’t the only ways Hilbish Ford supports our community. Each month, the dealership awards one teacher the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. This award provides a beautiful trophy and monetary award. In the spring, the dealership offers Teacher Appreciation Week giveaways and throughout the year, the dealership offers Ford Drive 4 UR Programs for schools and community groups.

Check back each week for the newest Hilbish Ford Student Athletes of the Week and become a fan of Hilbish Ford on Facebook to follow the latest winners of all the special Hilbish Ford awards.

Hilbish Recognizes Student Athletes at Hickory Ridge HS

Volleyball Coach Patti Chason, Maggie Mullen, Andrea Mullen, Rami Mullen, Hilbish Ford GM Timothy Vaughn,
Dylan Ratliff, Jenni Ratliff, Football Coach Jason Seidel

We are excited to announce our new Student Athlete of the Week program, in partnership with Cabarrus County Schools and Kannapolis City Schools! Last week we recognized our first winners, Rami Mullen and Dylan Ratliff, who are both seniors at Hickory Ridge High School.

Rami Mullen (Volleyball) is the co-captain and setter on the team at HRHS. She is a strong defensive player and was instrumental in HRHS clinching the SW4A Conference Championship earlier this month.

Dylan Ratliff (Football) is a quarterback who had 280 yards passing in the win over Rocky River High School and, as of last week, he had 4 touchdown passes.

Congratulations Rami and Dylan! 

Be sure to check back soon for our next pair of Hilbish Student Athletes of the Week!

KCS Presents the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for October 2017

Congratulations to Tina Sinclair, who was recognized by Kannapolis City Schools and presented with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for October 2017!

Tina Sinclair is an extraordinary Kindergarten teacher at Forest Park Elementary. The parent that nominated her described her as a teacher that has a tremendous impact not only on her students but also on their families. She said, "Ms. Sinclair, hands down, has been the most amazing teacher I have had the privilege to work with as a parent. Each day she wears a smile, has so much energy, and communicates with the children in her classroom as if they were her own. She always comes up with creative ways to celebrate and typically funds most events for the children herself because many of the parents don't have the funds to help. She even provided a full-size special Christmas gift for each child. The awards she presents to her class are done with tearful pride in their growth, and as she sends them off to first grade, you can see her heart swell with love and how she will truly miss each child. She is a teacher that kids will remember for a lifetime. As a parent of a child in her class, I am forever grateful for the contribution she made in my daughter's life of learning."

Click here to nominate a Kannapolis City Schools teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award!

The Benefits of NitroFill

Tires filled with compressed air lose 1 psi for every 10 degree drop in temperature. And under inflated tires wear faster, reduce fuel economy and are more susceptible to damage from road hazards. You can protect against these issues with a NitroFill service. Tires inflated with NitroFill are less susceptible to pressure loss with drops in temperature.

"Replacing the air in your tires, and properly maintaining them with NitroFill can increase your tire life by as much as 50%, increase your fuel economy by as much as 10% and decrease your chances of experiencing a tire failure by as much as 75%... all while reducing your carbon foot print*" (www.nitrofill.com).

How much can NitroFill save you? 

• Tire Wear/Longevity Savings: $750
• Fuel Consumption Savings: $300
• Tire Road Hazard Coverage: $200
• Motor Club Membership: $199

Total Savings: $1,449


NitroFill Service Includes: 

• Unlimited Roadside Assistance
• 24 Hour Emergency Battery Service
• 24 Hour Emergency Fluid Delivery
• Lost Key and Lockout Service
• Travel Benefits
• Trip Routing Service
• Theft and Hit & Run Protection
• Trip Interruption Coverage
• ...and More!

*Tire Wear/Longevity Savings based upon 4 tires for the 2018 Ford Mustang (265-35-R20) $1,500 and 50% increase in tire life per the Clemson University Nitrogen Tire Inflation Study (click here to view complete report) based upon 12,000 annual miles over 36,000 mile life of tires. Fuel Consumption Savings based upon EPA's published Annual Average Fuel Economy for US Passenger Vehicles: 24.1 MPG X 12,000 annual miles and the 2017 National average gas price per gallon. 

**Complete details are provided upon customer registration as benefits may vary. See your NitroFill Dealer (Hilbish Ford - 2600 S. Cannon Blvd, Kannapolis, NC / (877) 843-6193) for more information.

Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaways at Hilbish Ford

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” - Albert Einstein

As a long-time sponsor for the Teacher of the Month programs for Kannapolis City Schools and Cabarrus County Schools, Hilbish Ford recognizes the efforts of our teachers and the outstanding work they do.  Teachers inspire our students to be their very best and impact their lives far beyond the boundaries of the classroom. 

As a way to say thank you, we invite all of the teachers in Cabarrus County to enter a special contest just for them!  When you enter our Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway*, you'll have a chance to win one of these 3 prizes:

• 4 Tires (up to $300 value)
• Auto Detailing ($150 value)
• The Works – includes Synthetic Blend Oil Change, Tire Rotation, Brake Inspection & more ($40 value)

Enter the Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway

*Contest ends Thursday, May 11, 2017.  Winners will be notified by email on Friday, May 12, 2017.  Winners must respond within 72 hours or another name will be drawn.  Teacher ID must be presented in order to claim your prize. 

KCS Presents the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for March 2017

Congratulations to Eric Anderson, who was recognized by Kannapolis City Schools and presented with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for March 2017!

Eric Anderson is an amazing 8th grade math teacher at Kannapolis Middle School. It doesn’t matter if students are math superstars or have often been afraid of math, Mr. Anderson makes sure that math becomes fun and meaningful for everyone that he teaches. The student that nominated Mr. Anderson described himself as always having a hard time with math. However, he said Mr. Anderson has made sure that he understands every lesson and is learning the concepts of math. The student also said that Mr. Anderson makes learning fun and truly cares about all of his students. That is why he nominated Mr. Anderson and said he is one of his favorite teachers.

We are extremely proud that Eric is part of our Kannapolis City Schools’ family, and we are and delighted to present him with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award. Congratulations!

Click here to nominate a Kannapolis City Schools teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award!

When Should I Check My Brakes?

By the time you start hearing screeching or grinding, some brake damage has already occurred. 

You want to inspect your brakes regularly so that rotor damage (one cause of those not-so-lovely sounds) doesn’t become an issue. A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes inspected every time you have your oil changed.

Maintaining enough material on your brake pads protects the rotor. As your brake pads wear, of course, they get thinner. The fronts wear faster than the rear brake pads by a ratio of about 2:1 because there is more load placed on the front when stopping.

Weather doesn’t really affect how fast your brakes wear, but it’s important to know that in really cold weather, you might temporarily hear a grinding or squealing sound just the first few times you apply the brakes—on a cold morning as you’re pulling out of the driveway, for instance. The friction from applying the brakes warms them quickly, so you shouldn’t hear that sound once the brakes have been applied a few times. If you do, you’ll want to bring your vehicle to our Service Center for an inspection. 

KCS Teacher Breaks Record as Two-Time Winner of Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award

Congratulations to Fran Patterson, the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month for February 2017!

Fran Patterson is an outstanding kindergarten teacher at Fred L. Wilson Elementary School. She received a record-setting THIRTEEN nominations from families and students that could not say enough good things about how wonderful she is. Fran is our first two-time winner of the Hilbish Award. She first received the honor back in 2011. We normally don’t select repeat winners, but we could not ignore so many heart-felt nominations.

Here is just a sampling:

“There are no words to describe how appreciative we are of Mrs. Patterson. I have never come across an individual as genuine and caring as she is. She has helped my children to read and achieve their goals.” 

“Before starting at Fred L. Wilson, my son was diagnosed with Select Mutism, had severe anxiety, and would not speak at school. It took Mrs. Patterson maybe a month and my son was comfortable enough to speak with her and most other teachers.”  

“Mrs. Patterson goes over and beyond her duties as a teacher and genuinely cares for her students. We could not ask for a better teacher!” Even one of her students sent in a nomination, “My teacher is the best. She helps me with my reading.” 

Another mom ended her nomination by summing up the feelings of her entire family when it comes to Mrs. Patterson: “We love her dearly."

Fran was presented with a plaque and a gift of $300 from Hilbish Ford during the February 2017 Kannapolis Board of Education meeting.  We are so proud of Fran and delighted that she is our first two-time winner of the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award.  Congratulations!

Click here if you would like to nominate a Kannapolis City Schools teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award!

KCS Presents the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for January 2017

Congratulations to Alexandria Gordon, who was recognized by Kannapolis City Schools and presented with the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award for January 2017!

Alexandria is a passionate fourth grade teacher at Shady Brook Elementary School who strives to make a difference in the life of each student she teaches every day. She goes above and beyond in meeting all of her students’ needs. Alex meets individually with every student and sets goals that work for them at their level, while encouraging them to learn and grow. She provides opportunities for her students to be leaders in the classroom and to learn from each other through interactive and engaging lessons.

She sets parents at ease and has excellent communication with them. Both parents and students alike adore Alex. A parent recently praised Alex for her genuine love of each and every one of her students and said,

“When you walk into her room, you can feel the spirit of family throughout the room. When you see her students they truly focus on Teamwork making the Dream work.” 

Congratulations Alex and thank you for going above and beyond for our students!  Alex was presented with a plaque and a gift of $300 from Hilbish Ford during the Kannapolis Board of Education meeting in February 2017.

Click here to nominate a Kannapolis City Schools teacher for the Hilbish Ford Teacher of the Month Award!

5 Reasons to Care About Worn Shocks & Struts

Winter can be rough on your car’s suspension, and spring (hello, potholes!) can make it even worse. Here’s what can happen if you ignore some key warning signs—and tips on when to have your shocks and struts replaced, to help keep you cruising into summer.

1. Reduced Braking Ability

When your shocks or struts become worn down, your vehicle "jounces" more over bumps, which means it bounces up and down. This makes braking more difficult and could significantly increase your stopping distance. So take note: If your vehicle is taking longer than usual to stop, or if it is nose-diving when you do so (another sign of decreased traction), have your vehicle checked by a Ford technician. A suspension check is part of the Multi-Point Inspection included in The Works™ package; during the inspection technicians will ensure that all possible pothole-related damage is assessed, and you’ll have less to worry about.

2. Less Control on Corners

Watch out for an exaggerated “body roll” when you turn corners—this is when you feel yourself and your vehicle tilting a bit more than normal, which can be a sign of damaged shocks or struts. If that’s happening to you, take your vehicle in for a suspension check right away, because excessive body roll can affect your ability to safely steer around obstructions in the road.

3. Rougher Ride

Getting jostled on your journey is not only uncomfortable, it can affect your ability to safely control your vehicle. Try a quick bounce test at home by pushing down firmly on the front and rear of your vehicle. If the car moves up and down more than once or twice, have your shocks and struts checked at your Ford dealer.

4. Tire Wear

When struts or shocks are worn out, your tires wear out faster. A damaged strut or shock can also contribute to quicker wear on the other steering components of the vehicle, like rods and wheel bearings. If you notice a rumbling or increased vibrations at higher speeds, have a technician look for “cupping” on your tires, which is a type of scalloped wear pattern associated with struts and shocks. Cupping happens when your car jounces up and down, leaving indented scuff marks on the tires, and is a big red flag that your suspension needs repairing.

5. More Hydroplaning & Skidding

Worn shocks and struts can affect the way your wheels engage with the road, especially when roads are slick. If your vehicle is sliding or hydroplaning frequently, get your suspension checked by a Ford technician - before April showers arrive.

If you think your shocks and struts are worn, bring your vehicle to the Hilbish Ford Service Center to have a trained technician inspect them.  Visit our website today or call (877) 843-6193.

Source: My Ford Magazine