Career Center Auto Technician students to compete in nationals
The auto technician students at Coshocton County Career Center took first place at state’s Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition and will be heading to nationals on June 9. DeCosky Ford donated a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT for the team to train with, which will be the same kind of vehicle used at nationals. Pictured l-r: Randy Osborne, auto tech instructor; Kane Wilkie, competitor; Matthew Krasky, competitor; Dennis Rine, auto tech instructor; and Jay Shepler, Decosky Ford representative.
COSHOCTON – Matthew Krasky and Kane Wilkie, Coshocton County Career Center auto tech students, received first place in the state’s Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition, and will be competing at nationals in Dearborn, MI on June 9 – 12 on the front lawn of the Ford National Headquarters.
Upon winning state, Krasky and Wilkie received four $10,000 scholarships to four different colleges, tools, awards, and other prizes. More scholarships and prizes are available if they place in the top 10 at nationals. The team qualified for state after scoring the highest in the state of Ohio on an online exam earlier this year.
To prepare themselves for the nationals, DeCosky Ford has donated a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT, which will be the same vehicle used in the competition. Krasky and Wilkie, along with their instructors, Dennis Rine and Randy Osborne, have been familiarizing themselves with the vehicle for three hours a day and practicing for the written portion of the competition each evening. The two need to know how to operate and repair the entire vehicle from bumper to bumper.
“We wanted to help them out and support the kids, and make sure they had the right stuff to use,” said Jay Shepler of DeCosky Ford.
During both the state and national competition, teams not only have to pass an auto exam, but a written test as well. In 2012, the Career Center students took second in state, doing well on their written test, but lacking in the auto exam, which judges speed, accuracy, and workmanship. This is the first year the team has taken first in state, presenting the only perfect vehicle at state.
“It’s been fun to work with them for two years and to see where they are today compared to where they’ve been,” said Osborne.
The team will arrive at the Ford National Headquarters Sunday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m. for a welcoming ceremony. On Monday morning, they will take a tour of the Ford Rouge Factory and then compete in the 100-question, two-hour written exam. During that time, the instructors will be able to tour Ford’s Proving Grounds where they conduct all of their auto testing. Monday will wrap up with a Trade Show and dinner.
Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m., the hands-on auto competition begins on the front lawn of the Ford National Headquarters. Each two-member team will have no more than two hours to diagnose and repair the problems with the vehicle. After the contest, awards will be given out and the day will conclude with a tour through the Henry Ford Museum. The competitors will be staying at the Henry Ford Hotel.
Upon arrival, the students will receive a knit shirt and a belt buckle which must be worn at all times, as well as a hat and coat. On the day of the auto competition, competitors will also receive a shirt with the competition’s sponsors listed. All competitors and their instructors from all 50 states travel to Michigan at no cost.
The Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition offers nearly $12 million in scholarships to high school students interested in pursuing a career as auto service technicians. More than 12,500 students from across the nation have a chance to compete in the national competition each year.
For more information, visit autoskills.aaa.com.
Category: Education
You guys can do it. Lets go team Krasky & Wilkie.
Rally up boys! You can do it!
Great job….good luck next June.