Huntco Polytech Duo Wins New Jersey Auto Tech Competition

Flemington, N.J. – Two automotive technology students from Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School have topped the competition, yet again, in an impressive display of skills, composure and teamwork. The duo of Austin Tarby and Patrick Willey captured first place on Jan. 19 at the Inaugural New Jersey Auto Tech Competition, sponsored by the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), at Brookdale Community College.

To end 2018, Austin and Patrick teamed up to place first, out of 70 teams, at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Top Tech Challenge. Their most recent win earned them entry and all expenses paid to compete in the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City this April, which is held in conjunction with the New York Auto Show. They also took home scholarships to Brookdale Community College and Snap-on tools.

At the New Jersey Auto Tech Competition, Austin and Patrick competed against two-person teams to demonstrate their skills in six hands-on stations, including engine performance; brakes; engines; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC); electrical and Controller Area Network (CAN)-BUS. The stations measured their abilities to assess and undertake vehicle repairs.

Both Austin and Patrick are seniors at Hunterdon County Polytech enrolled in the Automotive Technology II course led by instructor Chris Scheuerman. They attribute their success to the guidance Scheuerman provides both in the classroom and in extra practice sessions, held twice a week leading up to competition.

“Austin and Patrick have come in on their own time to practice and learn, because they share a passion for this field and a desire to further their training,” said Scheuerman. “They will certainly have success beyond these competitions.”

Scheuerman commended Brian Hughes from NJ CAR and Ivan Anderson, automotive coordinator at Brookdale Community College, for a well-organized and challenging New Jersey Auto Tech Competition.

Before heading to the National Automotive Technology Competition as teammates, Austin and Patrick will next compete against one another in the NJ SkillsUSA Championship contest in March.

Hunterdon County Polytech’s Automotive Technology Program operates out of the school’s Central Campus located at 10 Junction Rd. in Flemington. Learn more at hcpolytech.org.

Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School is the largest component of Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD). Polytech is the district’s shared-time high school that prepares students for a seamless transition to college and career paths. HCVSD also operates an Adult and Continuing Education school and three science-based high school academies: the Biomedical Sciences Academy, the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy and the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.

All pupils will be given equal opportunity for enrollment in programs operated by the Hunterdon County Vocational School District regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, religion, disability, or socioeconomic status (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B, Section IV-A). No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity which receives federal financial assistance, et seq (34 C.F.R. Part 104.4(a)(b).

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Photo Caption: Pictured from left to right, Hunterdon County Polytech students Austin Tarby and Patrick Willey celebrate their first-place finish at the recent New Jersey Auto Tech Competition.