FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Hughes, Director of Communications New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (609) 883-5056, x315 [email protected]
Stephen Hudik, Director of CommunicationsBrookdale Community College (732) 224-2758 [email protected]
Auto Tech Students Demonstrate Diagnostic & Repair Skills At Inaugural New Jersey Auto Tech Competition
Teams from Hunterdon County Polytech, Vineland High School and Perth Amboy Vo-Tech Earn Top Three Positions; Hunterdon to Advance to National Competition in April
Trenton, N.J. (January 30, 2019) – Teams from several New Jersey high schools competed on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at the inaugural New Jersey Auto Tech Competition, sponsored by the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR), on the campus of Brookdale Community College. The top three teams were:
First Place: Hunterdon County Polytech– Students Austin Tarby and Patric Willey; faculty instructor Chris Scheuerman
Second Place: Vineland High School– Students: Raymond Burkett and Giovanni Figueroa; faculty instructor Louis Bramante
Third Place: Perth Amboy Vo-Tech- Students: Edisamir Carabal and Rafael Miranda; faculty instructor Michael Perpente
The two-student teams demonstrated their skills on six hands-on stations including: engine performance, brakes, engines, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical and Controller Area Network (CAN)-BUS. The stations measured their ability to assess and undertake vehicle repairs. Faculty and lab assistants from Brookdale served as judges for the competition.
The Hunterdon County Polytech team will now advance to the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City this April, held in conjunction with the New York Auto Show.
“Today’s auto tech jobs are more tech than auto, with skilled employees using laptops to analyze complex data and diagnose a problem long before they pick up a wrench and get under the hood,” said Jim Appleton, President of NJ CAR. “New Jersey’s franchised automotive retailers are committed to encouraging students to take a serious look at a career in auto repair. Not only are these good-paying, local jobs that can’t be outsourced, they are in high demand, with thousands more expected over the next seven years. We are proud of all the teams that competed this year and look forward to seeing these students pursue successful careers in auto repair.”
“It was inspiring to see the hard work, dedication and talents displayed by all the teams,” said Dr. David Stout, President of Brookdale Community College. “We look forward to hosting this competition again next year and encourage all students who participated to consider Brookdale as the location to learn and to refine their skills.”
Brookdale’s auto technician program provides students with an associate’s degree and path toward an excellent career in the automotive repair industry, at a fraction of the cost and with less incurred debt for students compared to private, for-profit providers.
The New Jersey schools participating in the 2019 competition included: Hunterdon County Polytech, Old Bridge High School, Perth Amboy Vo-Tech, Vineland High School and West Orange High School.
About The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers
The New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) was founded in 1918 and is a non-profit organization serving more than 520 franchised new car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey.
NJ CAR promotes the principals of commercial honor and integrity in the sale and service of motor vehicles. The Coalition keeps its members informed on a variety of business matters, practices, trends, and legislation and works to ensure all members are educated regarding what is required to achieve regulatory compliance.