Queens Team Among Top Young Auto Techs In the Country

Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Education High School seniors Jordy Castro and Lazaro Isidoro demonstrated superior auto technician skills, finishing in the Top 10 nationwide in the National Automotive Technology Competition, which ended Wednesday April 24th during a final showdown at the Javits Center.

Organized by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association since 1993, the National Automotive Technology Competition is the auto industry's largest school-to-work initiative and pits the nation's best auto tech students against each other for the chance to win $3 million in prizes and scholarships.

The competition culminates with a 3-hour, under-the-hood face-off, where students diagnose and repair automobiles that are rigged with a variety of malfunctions in front of a live New York International Auto Show audience.

The finalists from Jamaica, Queens were randomly assigned a 2019 Lexus and worked with local dealership Rallye Lexus in Glen Cove, N.Y., weeks prior to the final round to practice. Their instructor, Miguel Sierra, placed first in the competition’s Instructor Challenge. For their strong showing, the team, which came in 9th out of 29 teams, was awarded:

• $10,000 Ohio Technical College Scholarship
• $6,000-$8,000 University of Northwestern Ohio Scholarship
• $2,000 Universal Technical Institute Scholarship
• $3,000 Lincoln Technical Institute Scholarship
• Snap-on Tool Bag, 8 Piece Screwdriver Set, and 2 Piece Wide Radiator Hose Pick Set

"High quality vocational training is a critical part of our Nation's education needs and this competition is designed to encourage more rigorous standards for vocational education to ensure students master the skills they need to succeed as lifelong learners, workers and citizens," said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association. “There is a huge shortage of skilled technicians in the industry and we need these highly motivated and talented young people in dealerships across the country to make sure vehicle owners have access to technicians with the best computer and technical skills."

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder spoke at the competition’s awards banquet, mentioning Governor Cuomo’s announcement, at the opening of the Auto Show on Saturday April 20th, of a new statewide automotive jobs and vocational education program.

"We applaud Governor Cuomo for this innovative approach to strengthen New York's competitive edge in training workers for the jobs of tomorrow," DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder said. "We look forward to working with all stakeholders to create a positive program that will benefit students and industry and ultimately the people who buy and drive cars."

“Win or lose, it’s a wonderful experience for my students because it shows them what is expected in the industry and trains them to meet those standards,” said Thomas Edison CTE High School instructor Miguel Sierra. “I could not be more impressed and inspired by my students’ hard work, problem solving abilities, and highly technical knowledge. I look forward to following their long and successful future careers in the auto industry.”

The overall winners of the competition were Nicholas Hamer and Cory Prisco from Wallenpaupack Area High School in Hawley, Pennsylvania.