CRTC Auto Tech Students Tops in State, Will Compete in National Competition

CRTC Auto Tech Students Tops in State, Will Compete in National Competition

CONCORD, NH - Two Concord Regional Technical Center students will be representing New Hampshire in the National Automotive Technology Competition in New York City on March 29 and 30, where they will compete for a share of more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships and the title of The Nation’s Best Automotive Technician.

Seniors Jacob Killam, of Hopkinton High School, and Travis Stacy, of John Stark Regional High School, scored the highest marks on a statewide test of high school CTC Automotive Technology programs administered by the New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association (NHADA) in February.

Now they are off to New York City to compete with hundreds of the nation's best high school automotive education students from across the country. The competition will be held at the annual New York International Automobile Show, and is sponsored by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

“Jacob and Travis are great kids who have worked hard to develop their skills and techniques over the past two years in the Automobile Technology class here at the CRTC,” said Craig Emerson, who teaches in the program and will accompany the students to NYC for the event. “They are training hard for this event, and they should do pretty well.”

Each two-person student team must diagnose and repair a number of pre-assigned problems under a car's hood within an allotted amount of time. Each "bug" correctly repaired is worth a number of points, depending on the level of difficulty. In addition, the student's overall knowledge is tested through a series of written tests prepared by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

To prepare for the competition, students train with their high school instructors as well as with certified technicians at local franchised automobile dealerships.  Grappone Toyota of Concord is working with the CRTC team, making available a 2016 Toyota Camry for the students to practice on, and their shop foreman to mentor the students through the preparation phase.

The NHADA conducted the statewide selection test, and is sponsoring the CRTC team in the national competition.

Concord Regional Technical Center

The CRTC is one of New Hampshire’s most advanced high school career and technical education facilities. Opened in 1980, the CRTC serves more than 530 students from nine regional school districts. The eleven targeted Career Technical Education programs use state-of-the-art equipment and are guided by the latest industry standards that provide students with hands-on experience in a realistic environment designed to prepare them for both college and the workplace.

More Information:

For more information Kaleena Guzman at: kguzman@concordnhschools.net