Automotive Students to Pop Hoods and Vie for State Auto Repair Championship
--The Automobile ClubWHAT: The Southland's finest high school auto technology students will square off to diagnose and repair identically bugged Ford Escapes at the 2002 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition on May 10. (Northern California has an identical contest the same day.) The highest scoring team will become the state champion representing California in June's Washington, D.C. national finals. At the national event, students will compete for $10 million in scholarships. The Auto Club (AAA) and Ford sponsor the Southern California contest as an education outreach to encourage students to pursue careers in the automotive industry. WHY: Trained automotive technicians are among the most sought-after and highly-paid professionals in today's job market, but many high schools have reduced or eliminated automotive programs due to lack of funds or teachers. Demand for qualified technicians to work on today's sensitive and sophisticated vehicles exceeds supply by about 60,000 annually, with salaries ranging from $35,000-75,000 a year. WHEN: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, May 10. Awards presentation will be at 1 p.m. WHERE: California Speedway, Fontana (I-10 to Cherry Ave. Exit, north 1 mile) WHO: Southland's top high school automotive technicians (two-student teams) representing: High School City Agoura Agoura Hills Arvin Arvin Copper Mountain College ROP Joshua Tree Hemet Hemet Hesperia Hesperia Jurupa Valley Mira Loma Lompoc Lompoc Morro Bay Morro Bay Poway Poway Ramona (Two teams) Ramona San Bernardino San Bernardino San Clemente San Clemente San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Sultana Hesperia
Onsite/Phone interviews of students or organizers are available prior to 9:45 a.m. and as contestants finish the competition.