Fallon Students Win State Auto Repair Championship

13 May 1999

Fallon Students Win State Auto Repair Championship; Winning Time of 42:25 with Zero Demerits in Hands-On Contest Puts Churchill Co. High School in National Finals

    RENO, Nev.--May 13, 1999--A team of two students from Churchill Co. High School in Fallon combined detailed knowledge of high-tech automotive repair and fast-paced teamwork to win the state finals of the FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest.
    Jared Laca and Jeff Sowden, both 18 years old, won the state auto repair championship on May 12 in Reno. They will compete for the national title against two-person teams from every other state on June 21 in Washington D.C. The students earned spots in the Ford Motor Co.'s ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational Training) program, including scholarships to associate degree automotive technology programs. They also won a Ford vehicle for use by their school's automotive technology program. The team's instructor is Richard Evans.
    Ross Bengoa and Ramone Batish, both 18 years old, from Albert Lowry High School in Winnemucca took second-place honors. Their instructor is John Aberasturi. David Lipnicki and Travis Dyer, also from Churchill Co. High School placed third. Their instructor is Darryl Grove.
    The state championship was determined by the combination of a written qualifying exam and the team's performance in a hands-on competition to quickly diagnose and accurately repair a deliberately disabled Ford vehicle. The team of Lipnicki and Dyer took first place honors in the written test, earning another Ford vehicle for their school's automotive program.
    "These students are outstanding representatives of the next generation of auto service technicians," said Bronwyn Hogan, AAA spokeswoman. "They have high-tech skills and understand the importance of old-fashioned hard work and dedication."
    The contest calls attention to the need for automotive technicians to develop the high-tech skills required to service increasingly advanced automobiles. Currently, more than 85 percent of the functions on a new vehicle are computer-controlled and cars are becoming more complex with each passing year.
    The Nevada contest was one of the 50 state competitions being held this month. The FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest will award approximately $10 million in scholarships and prizes nationwide and is held to encourage students to pursue rewarding career opportunities in automotive service.
    Established nearly 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide variety of automotive, insurance, travel and financial services for its nearly four million members. The California State Automobile Association, with members in Nevada, Northern California and Utah, is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.

    Note to Editors: Photo of each team is available.