Wayne High School Students Win Scholarships

From UTI: During an automotive tech competition at Universal Technical Institute’s campus in Bloomfield, teams of high school students in the New York Metropolitan Area and surrounding regions vied for the chance to win UTI scholarships ranging from 25 to 100% percent of tuition costs.

Ninety-six teams of two attended from thirty high schools. Students engaged in written and hands-on testing on vehicle parts, brakes, diagnostics, and electrical systems, using UTI’s state-of-the-industry equipment and facilities. A total of six teams won the chance to receive UTI scholarships, and the top three teams additionally received Snap-On® tool sets valued at up to $2,365 for their high schools. The winning teams hailed from Thomas Edison Career & Technical Education High School (1st and 2nd), Passaic County Technical Institute (3rd and 5th), Milliken Technical Center (4th), and Vernon Township High School (6th).

“The knowledge and passion these students bring to the competition is impressive, and competitions like this one can expose students to the opportunities available for transportation technicians,” said Steve McElfresh, UTI-Bloomfield Campus President. “Students with the right skills and training can go to work in jobs that are in demand, pay well and offer plenty of opportunities for advancement.”

Outdated perceptions of what it means to be an automotive or diesel technician can hold young people back from pursuing careers in field, while employers in the New York/New Jersey area -- and across the nation -- are facing critical skilled labor shortages. According to projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be, on average, more than 120,000 job openings in the automotive, diesel and collision repair industries each year from 2016 through 2026. As part of its work to meet industry demands for trained technicians, UTI partners with more than 30 of the nation’s leading transportation manufacturer brands, who help shape the curricula, offer tuition support packages for students, and outfit campuses with the latest vehicles and the same tools and sophisticated technology graduates will see and use on the job. More than four out of five UTI graduates are employed full-time in their field within a year of graduating.

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