Washington Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition Finals
22 April 1998
Washington State's Best High School Automotive Students Compete in State Finals of Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills CompetitionBELLEVUE, Wash., April 22 -- Washington state's 20 best high school automotive students will test their competency in computer diagnostics, automotive adeptness and their mechanical IQ when 10 two-student teams compete against each other and the clock in the 1998 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills contest to be held next month. On May 8, these teams will be placed in a head-to-head competition to quickly and accurately diagnose and repair deliberately disabled, or "bugged," vehicles at the state finals. The competition, to be held at Renton Technical College, 3000 N.E. Fourth Street, Renton, begins at 10 a.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The contest involved a written examination given to approximately 6,000 students nationally and in Washington state, 10 two-student teams evolved as qualifiers for the hands-on competition. Thus, these students are tested both on complex mathematical equations, as well as highly-advanced computer diagnostics skills. And, since computers now control more than 80 percent of the functions of a new vehicle, the next generation of automotive technicians will rely on brain power more than muscle power to keep today's and tomorrow's sophisticated cars up to speed. "The written qualifying exam and the hands-on finals are designed to test the type of skills needed to repair modern, high-tech vehicles," said John Milbrath, director of AAA Washington's Automotive Services department. "Contestants will need to know as much about computers as they will about basic mechanics to be successful," he added. The state's champion team will represent Washington at the Student Auto Skills national finals in Washington, D.C. in June. The team will also earn a spot in the Ford Motor Co.'s ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program, including scholarships to associate degree automotive technology programs and paid apprenticeships at Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealerships. 1998 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition Washington State's Qualifying Teams Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground Shawn Whisenhunt and James Harper Kurt Sitton, Instructor Lake Roosevelt High School, Coulee Dam Nelson Ford and Zeb Horton Steven Hood, Instructor Tri Tech Skills Center, Kennewick Michael Hubbard and David Carlson Richard Ousse, Instructor Kentridge High School, Kent Jason Deschambault and Daniel Huffman Roy Voelker, Instructor North Thurston High School, Lacey Phillip Thomas and Douglas Baldwin Brian Stretch, Instructor Timberline High School, Lacey John Cooley and Brandan Bates David Livesay, Instructor R.A. Long High School, Longview Chris Blair and Ryan Larsen Randy Bailey, Instructor Richland High School, Richland Adam Perkins and Sean Totten Dale Hill, Instructor Clark County Skills Center, Vancouver Nathan Force and Christopher Warren Jim Neiman, Instructor Clark County Skills Center, Vancouver Colby Seibold and Jacob Kanooth Kirk VanGelder, Instructor SOURCE AAA Washington