The ASE Education Foundation is partnering with auto dealer associations to conduct student automotive competitions designed to increase awareness of career opportunities in the automotive industry.

“The goal of the student competitions is to connect businesses with schools and increase the interest of students, encouraging them to work and stay within the automotive field,” said foundation President Mike Coley.  “The most recent competition was held in December in Texas and was a big success with 40 teams competing and over 700 students participating in a career fair. These types of events are another way the ASE Education Foundation is working to reduce the industry’s technician shortage.”

Three student competitions are currently scheduled for 2024, and more are being planned. The next event will take place Feb. 23 at Weber State University in Layton, Utah. Competitions are scheduled for March in Charlotte, N.C., and in the fall in Houston.

During an event this past December at Texas Motor Speedway, 117 high school seniors from ASE accredited training programs competed in the North Texas Automobile Dealers Auto Tech Competition. Dealer technicians were paired with each of the 40 teams for several weeks leading up to the event, which featured students trying to diagnose and repair bugged vehicles whose problems were notated on repair orders.

The competition format can be modified for local or organizational needs. Unlike traditional student competitions with school instructors training and preparing students, these competitions are based on a partnership between schools and the local businesses. The students selected for the competition job-shadow at a local employer’s service facility and prepare for the contest alongside the technicians in the shop. A list of specific skills for the students to experience is provided to each employer. The goal is to provide real-world experience to the students while exposing them to job opportunities in the local market.

To learn more about the student competitions, contact George Arrants, vice president of the ASE Education Foundation, at [email protected].