Michigan Students Compete in Auto Skills State Final on Wednesday, April 30

Ten two-student teams representing technical and high schools from Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Allegan, Alpena, Delta, Genesee, Kent, and Kalamazoo counties will test their automotive knowledge in the tenth annual state finals of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Contest.

They will compete indoors at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30 at the Macomb Sports and Expo Center on the south campus of Macomb Community College, located at 14500 E. 12 Mile Road in Warren, north of I-696.

The contest, which rewards the state's top student techs and calls attention to the need for knowledgeable students to enter the field, will be completed by 11 a.m. The necessity for qualified automotive technicians is great. There is a shortage of qualified techs with an estimated 30,000 new jobs opening each year. Certified auto techs can now earn as much as $100,000 a year.

Camera, video and interview opportunities will be available as the teams race to fix identically "bugged" 2003 Ford vehicles. In addition to the students, five pros from Michigan and Ohio will compete in regional finals of the Ultimate Master Tech Challenge. The top team and pro will head to the national finals on June 24 in Washington, D.C.

The Expo Center is located on the college's southeast corner. From I-696, take the Groesbeck Exit. Go north on Bunert to Martin. Turn east on Martin to Hayes. Go north on Hayes to the first college entrance and turn left. The Expo Center will be on your left. Please call Bill Semion at +1-313-335-1503 to make special arrangements for interviews.

PRNewswire -- April 25