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Mitsubishi Motors Awards Scholarships to New York Tech Students

18 January 2000

Mitsubishi Motors Awards Scholarships to New York Tech Students; Students Take Top Honors in Regional Automotive Technology Competition

    HUDSON, N.Y., Jan. 17 -- In a competitive test of automotive
knowledge and troubleshooting skills, two Columbia Greene Education Center
seniors rose to the technological challenge, each winning a $2,500 scholarship
from Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA).
    The Capital Region Automobile Dealers Association Competition is an
automotive challenge which allows students to apply their automotive expertise
to inspect, repair and record a sequence of "bugs" on a vehicle.  Nine
2-member teams competed in this year's competition.
    The first place team of Glenn Nostrand and Arnold Rodegerdts prepared for
several months for the competition under the direction of Robert Elinson,
instructor for Columbia Greene Education Center, located in Hudson, NY.
    The winning students will meet in New York in April to compete in the
Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association's National Automotive
Technology Competition Finals -- an event showcased at the New York
International Automobile Show.
    "There is a definite need for qualified automotive technicians," said
Stephanie Keefe, MMSA corporate relations administrator.  "This automotive
technology competition is part of a prestigious nationwide program teaching
students marketable skills, as well as providing opportunities for auto
technicians of the new millennium."
    To qualify for the competition, students took a written test challenging
their automotive knowledge.  Two-person teams paired up to work on a vehicle
provided by an automotive sponsor.  A panel of judges determined how well the
teams diagnosed and resolved each diagnostic problem and if they properly
recorded the solution.  In the event of a tie, judges refer to the written
test scores.
    This automotive technology competition program is just one of the ways
Mitsubishi Motors demonstrates its commitment to the President's Summit for
America's Future, also know as America's Promise.  As one of 120 companies,
and the only automotive company chosen to participate in America's Promise,
Mitsubishi Motors has pledged to reach a half million youth by providing
marketable skills through various programs by the year 2001.
    Mitsubishi Motors has been a sponsor of automotive technology competitions
since 1992, encouraging students to earn a higher education by awarding the
competition prizes in scholarship form.  To date, MMSA's efforts include
annual sponsorship of four regional competitions and the national competition
in New York; scholarships for students to use toward their education; vehicles
and various vehicle parts donated to automotive technology programs; and
contributions to vocational/tech programs awarded first place in national
finals.
    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.  The
website address is http://www.mitsubishicars.com.