FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Panza
Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association
440.746.1500
Aspiring auto techs qualify for
19th Annual Automotive Technology Competition
Cleveland, OH (January 27, 2011)—After completing a rigorous written examination, five two-member automotive tech student teams from five area technical high schools have qualified for the “hands on” portion of the 19th Annual Automotive Technology Competition.
The next phase of the competition, held in cooperation with the Cleveland Auto Show, presented by Auto Trader.com, will take place at the I-X Center during the Cleveland Auto Show on Sunday, February 27. That’s when the five, two-member teams will be challenged to diagnose and find bugs that have been planted on vehicles by the instructors at Cuyahoga Community College.
“These five teams represent the very best automotive technology high school students from across Northern Ohio,” says Dennis Rose, floor manager of the Cleveland Auto Show. “They now move onto the next phase of the competition, where they will be competing for scholarships to one of four area colleges.”
The five teams qualifying for the final round of the 19th Annual Automotive Technology Competition include: Roy Campbell and Thomas Adkins and their instructor Joseph Lamatrice from Cuyahoga Valley Career Center; Dominic LaPinta and Justin Janca and their instructor Robert Yuravak from the Polaris Career Center; Austin Frankart and Kyle Mulholand and instructor Jodie Keegan from Sentinel Career Center; Blake Starcher and Kyle Grammatas and instructor Dave Gillies from Trumbull Career Center; and Dennis Sevic and Jonathan Martinas and instructor Gary Mitchhart from Valley Forge High School.
Justin Janca, of Polaris career Center, scored the highest of all contestants on the written qualifying exam.
“Our congratulations go out to each of these teams as well as their instructors and educational institutions,” says Bill Burke, chairman of the Cleveland Auto Show. “By completing this first phase of the automotive technology competition and qualifying for the ‘hands on’ portion of this competition, they have already embarked on what is sure to be a very rewarding and fulfilling career path.”
The winners of the 19th Annual Automotive Technology Competition will receive a scholarship worth $4,000 for each team member to the school of their choice; Cuyahoga Community College, Ohio Technical College, the University of Northwestern Ohio, or Stark State College. Each of the colleges offers an outstanding automotive collegiate tech program, says Rose.
Second place winners will receive a $750 scholarship for each team member while third place finishers will be awarded a $600 scholarship for each team member. Winners will be recognized at the Cleveland Auto Show’s 18th Annual Automotive Career Day, when automotive tech students are invited to attend the Cleveland Auto Show, on February 28 at 11 a.m.
About the Cleveland Auto Show
The Cleveland Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com, marks the start of the spring selling season in Northeast Ohio. This year’s show runs from February 26th through March 6th, 2011. Featuring concept, pre- production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers, the show is held annually at the I-X Center with nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibits, with free parking compliments of your new motor vehicle dealer. The Show also features an array of entertainment including sports celebrity appearances from the Browns, Cavs and OSU and NASCAR. The Cleveland Auto Show is a consumer show and a favorite family tradition since 1903. Buy tickets online at www.clevelandautoshow.com.
About the GCADA
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA) has served the retail-automobile industry and community with integrity and distinction since 1903. Today, located in Brecksville, Ohio, GCADA represents 240 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which includes new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in a 21-county region of northern Ohio along the Lake Erie shore and beyond. More information on the GCADA can be found at www.gcada.org.
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