WU Tech and State Farm team up to give woman free car

The season of giving is revving up. Washburn Tech gifted its 28th Recycled Ride Tuesday morning.

Taliah Noble is a mother of two and now the proud owner of a 2012 Ford Escape.

She said the car not only provides transportation, but will also drive her toward her dreams.

Noble was shocked to learn she would receive Washburn Tech's latest Recycled Ride.

"I was in disbelief when I got told I got the car. Cause I thought, who is going to pick me? I was like there's way more people that need more things than me, so it was really life changing," she said.

She also said having two kids under the age of two is a lot of work, but the SUV will help her take care of her kids without a ton of financial strain.

"I get to have reliable transportation and not have to ask for rides or pay people for rides, and I can get them to and from doctor's appointments," said Noble.

Washburn University President Jerry Farley said Recycled Rides lets Washburn Tech students put their skills to the test, in this case, refurbishing a hail-damaged vehicle donated by State Farm.

"We want them to not only graduate with skills that we're training them to do in auto-collision, but we're teaching them that they can do something that matters in the community,” he said.

He added the initiative is also about making a difference in people's lives.

“At a student level, they are helping someone. We want them, when they graduate, to become involved citizens." Farley continued, "She's got a little baby here, she's got a young lady and she's trying to make a good life for them. This will help her do that."

With the new ride, Taliah is ready to jump start her dreams.

"Be able to go to school, that's what I really want to do," she said, "I want to go to school and show them that even though I got pregnant my sophomore year in college, I can still graduate."

Along with the refurbished car, Taliah recieved car-care products and the promise of a first oil change and check up.