WC Auto Students to Compete for Scholarships

The following release was submitted by Theresa Podguski, Director of Public Affairs for AAA East Central:

(ALLENTOWN, PA, April 19, 2012) – Twenty high school automotive students from across Pennsylvania will compete for scholarships in the automotive industry and the chance to advance to the National Finals and earn the title of “America’s Next Top Auto Technicians,” in the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition. The competition, will take place at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at ATC (Automotive Training Center), 900 Johnsville Boulevard, Warminster, PA, targets students looking to jumpstart a career as automotive service technicians.

“The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition is one of the ways in which AAA and Ford demonstrate their commitment to the future of today’s youth and build awareness of career opportunities in the automotive service industry,” stated Joseph Fosko, Approved Auto Repair Manager, AAA East Central, East Penn Region. “The competition also helps ensure the development of a quality workforce that is equipped to respond to increasingly sophisticated auto repair challenges.”

Each two-student team in the state competition will race the clock in correctly identifying and repairing intentionally installed “bugs” in identical 2012 Ford vehicles. Once their individual vehicle is properly diagnosed and repaired, the teammates must drive it across

the finish line, where the car will be inspected by a team of automotive industry judges for accuracy and workmanship.

The list of the top-ranked automotive technology students selected to compete in this year’s Pennsylvania Finals are attached. Each team is selected based on its scores in an online qualifying exam that tests their automotive knowledge.

In addition to winning scholarships and other valuable prizes, the winning team will represent Pennsylvania at the National Finals at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan on June 12, 2012. The team with the highest combined scores from the national hands-on competition and written exam will win.

Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills will offer nearly $12million in scholarships this year to students at both the state and national levels.

About Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills

The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills is a nationwide automotive technology competition that offers nearly $12 million in scholarships and prizes to high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing careers as automotive service technicians.  More than 12,000 students from across the U.S. compete for the chance to represent their school and state in the National Finals. The competition tests students’ automotive knowledge, workmanship and problem-solving abilities. For additional information on the competition, visit http://autoskills.aaa.com/.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

The East Penn Region, of AAA East Central, an affiliate of AAA and the Pennsylvania AAA Federation, has more than 280,000 members throughout its service area which takes in all of Lehigh County, and parts of Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Montgomery and Northampton Counties.

Editor's Note: A list of those competing in the tournament. Two students on this list are enrolled at Limerick's . The Western Center provides vocational education to students from the Spring-Ford Area School District, Lower Pottsgrove and Upper Perkiomen.

Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School, Ebensburg, PA
Students: Drew Morgan and Dustin Pellas
Instructor:  John Brown

A.P. Randolph Skills Center, Philadelphia, PA
Students:  Malcolm Pugh and Kevin Stewart
Instructor:  William Soleau

Berks Career & Technology Center East, Oley , PA
Students: Dylan Bohn and William Shaner
Instructor:  John Deatrich

Berks Career & Technology Center West, Leesport, PA
Students:  Joshua Bruder & Cody Gaugler
Instructor:  Jeffrey Schmehl

Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, Bethlehem, PA
Students:  Ethan Gaither and Jacob Savage
Instructor:  Jeffrey Cantrel

Bucks County Technology High School, Fairless Hills, PA
Students:  Branden Darroch and Dave Hippo
Instructor:    Byron Cesari

Lehigh Career & Technology Institute, Schnecksville, PA
Students:  Jonathan Ciallella and Branden Papay
Instructor:  Richard Sikora

Wallenpaupak Area High School, Hawley, PA
Students:  Curtis Barnes and Scott Watson
Instructor:  Mark Watson

Western Center for Technology Studies, Limerick, PA
Students:  Matt Bitterman and Aaron Gronski
Instructor:  Don Bray

York County Area Vocational Technical School, York, PA
Students:  Erwin Lopez-Perez and Grant Nix
Instructor:  Todd Kessler