Automotive
Seniors Bryan Beauvais and Ben Wojack recently competed in the 2008
National Automotive Technology Competition held at the New
York International Auto Show in Manhattan. Bryan and Ben were the
only competitors from Connecticut and met other students from around
the country as well as Canada. The students spent a week in New York
and were sponsored by the Greater Hartford Automobile Dealers Association
(GHADA). The Competition, the auto industry’s largest
school-to-work initiative, pits the nation’s best high school
automotive vocational education students against one another for
the title of ‘America’s Top Technician’.
Left
to Right: Automotive Department Head Jack Smith, Ben Wojack,
Instructor
Jaime Despres and Bryan Beauvais.
The
36 teams of students were assigned an automobile that was rigged
to malfunction in a number of ways. Using a repair order with actual
customer complaints, the student teams must diagnose and repair the
problem within the allotted time, using the manufacturer’s
specialty tools. Each “bug” correctly diagnosed
and repaired is worth a number of points, depending on the level
of difficulty. In
addition, the students’ knowledge of emissions control systems,
alignment, electrical test equipment, airbag components, oscilloscope
usage and mechanical measurement equipment is tested during a series
of intensive work station sessions. "This was somewhat
stressful, being timed, and all the people were walking by, taking
pictures and viewing us during the car show" said Bryan. To
prepare for the competition, students are trained at local new car
dealerships and the skills they learn from master technicians prepare
them to succeed in the working world. "The exposure to different
cars, experience and the challenging learning environment was amazing" added
Ben.
The
boys indicated that their expectations were high and they were
nervous before getting there. Their nerves paid off each winning
a $1,500 scholarship. The Steve Gabriel Memorial Scholarship Award
was presented to the boys for their excellent participation. Mr.
Gabriel who recently passed away was the President
of the Automobile Dealers Association which sponsored the students
for the competition.
Upon returning from New York on a Thursday
Bryan Beauvais participated in the Skills USA competition the next
day. "I believe
with the practice and additional skills I learned at the NATC I was
able to do really great. " Bryan placed first in the Skills competition
and will be traveling to Kansas City for another National Competition
this summer. "The Skills competition covered everything we learn
in school, all our trade activities. We are also competing in the Ford
AAA competition in May and if we do good there we get to travel to
Detroit!"
Congratulations
to the Automotive Department and its students for doing such a great
job!
Good Luck in
May
