Fact: Industry reports indicate a current shortage of approximately 32,000 auto industry service technicians nationally. The U.S. Dept. of Labor reports as much as a 20% increase in technicians is needed by 2012.
Fact: Today's vehicles are more high tech than ever and are being equipped with increasingly sophisticated computer technology.
Challenge: To encourage youths to pursue careers as skilled auto technicians.
What: The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills nationwide competition. A national automotive repair competition for high school juniors and seniors. Two-student teams from the 50 states will meet in Washington, D.C. to take part in a written test and hands-on competition. The result will be a national student team champion will emerge.
Student teams will meet on the competition field near the Lincoln Memorial to race against the clock to diagnose and repair identically "bugged" vehicles. Scores from the written and hands-on segments of the competition will be used to determine the best young auto technicians in the country.
Who: Andrew Canfield and Garret Raines from Ramona High School in Ramona, Calif. qualified as California's state champion. The team, coached by Michael Jordan, will now face 49 other teams in Washington, D.C.
Why: There is a need for qualified, well-trained auto technicians and it is growing. The goal of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition is to encourage young people to seek jobs in this field and to continue their automotive technology education in order to graduate and qualify for a top paying career in a growing job market.
When: Monday, June 27; 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. competition; 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. trophy presentations.
Where: Washington, D.C.; Ohio Drive and Independence Avenue; South of the Lincoln Memorial.
Note: B-roll will be available from the following satellite feed at following dates and times:
June 27; 2:30–3 p.m. ET: C Band, 1A 6, Transponder 16, Downlink 4040H
June 28; 1:30–1:45 p.m. ET: C Band, 1A 6, Transponder 16, Downlink 4020H
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