High School Students Revved Their Engines at Local Automotive Technology Competition

Students from Sandy Union High School took first place for the first time ever in the Automotive Technology Competition, sponsored by the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association and Carson Oil. Of the 11 high schools that competed, Capital Center placed second, Battle Ground third, Clark County Skills Center fourth, and Reynolds fifth.

The contest, held Saturday, January 31, 2004, at the Clark College T-TEN facility, drew over 40 students representing 11 high schools throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. These talented, young car buffs spent the day showing off their technical prowess by first taking the national Automotive Service Excellence written exam and then testing brake systems, executing engine diagnostic exams, pinpointing electrical circuitry faults, and steering and suspension problems.

"Our organization has made it a top priority to encourage vocational and technical skills training for area high school students," said Chris Neuber, executive vice president of the Metro Portland New Car Dealers Association and organizer of the local competition. "When I watch these young people pour their hearts into the competition, it confirms that this auto technology program plays a vital role in providing students with a viable option to achieve a successful career."

As part of an ongoing effort to support local high school and community college auto technology programs, the Metro Portland new Car Dealers Association sponsors the local Automotive Technology Competition and funds the winning team's trip to New York. Prize money is also awarded to the top five winning schools to be used for equipment in their auto technician departments.

To combat the resulting shortage of qualified automotive technicians, the association provides more than $150,000 per year to local automotive education programs. Competition participants included the following Oregon and Southwest Washington schools: Barlow, Battle Ground, Benson, Capital Center, Clark County Skills Center, David Douglas, Franklin, Gresham, Prairie, Reynolds and Sandy.

The winning Sandy High School team will travel to New York City to compete against over 40 teams from the U.S. and Canada in the National Automotive Technology Competition.