New York Automotive H.S. Students Face-Off in Technology Competition

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NEW YORK, Feb. 4 -- Greater New York's best automotive education students are competing to see who will move on to the National Automotive Technology Competition finals in March at the New York International Automobile Show. The high school seniors, who all study automotive service technology, are hoping for a chance to make it to the national finals where they will compete for more than $3.5 million in scholarships, new cars, and the title of "America's Top Technician."

The State finals, which are organized by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), will be held at 18-10 Whitestone Expressway, Whitestone, Queens on Tuesday, February 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m:

Each two person team is supported by their teacher, school, and a local area franchised new car dealer.

"The National Automotive Technology Competition is designed to reward the best of a new generation of automotive technicians and encourage future generations to choose the automotive industry as a meaningful and worthwhile career path," said GNYADA president, Mark Schienberg.

"Today's cars and trucks have become so sophisticated that maintaining and repairing them requires the brightest minds in both engineering and computer science. No longer can vehicle owners just lift the hood and tinker around to solve a problem. It takes well-trained, highly-skilled technicians using advanced diagnostic tools and computers," Schienberg continued.

Here's how the Competition works: The contests take place in two stages. First, each team is assigned a new car that is rigged with multiple computer and mechanical malfunctions. The student teams must then diagnose and repair "bug" within the 90 minutes allocated. Second, the student's theoretical knowledge is tested through a series of challenging workstation tests specially prepared by Snap-on, Hunter Engineering, Megatech, and the EPA.

Regional contest winners from across the country-including the New York winners-will compete at this year's National Competition on Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at the Javits Center in New York City.

                2005 NEW YORK FINALS COMPETITION TEAM LIST

  Team Buick
      School:    H.B. Ward Technical Ctr., Riverhead, NY
      Dealer:    King O'Rourke Pontiac-Buick-GMC  Truck, Inc.
      Teacher:   Michael O'Hara
      Students:  Ryan Kearns
                 Christopher Rankel

  Team Buick
      School:    Automotive High School, Brooklyn, NY
      Dealer:    Regan Pontiac-Buick-GMC Truck, Inc.
      Teacher:   Carlos Caraballo
      Students:  Isaac Bobb
                 Michael Nathan

  Team DaimlerChrysler
      School:    Automotive High School, Brooklyn, NY
      Dealer:    Major Chrysler
      Teacher:   Michael Danza
      Students:  Heirnick Bates
                 Xavier Herrera

  Team DaimlerChrysler
      School:    Mount Vernon High School, NY
      Dealer:    Middletown Mazda
      Teacher:   Michael Malocsay
      Students:  Brian Marslow
                 Vinrese Stewart

  Team Mazda
      School:    Milliken Tech Center, Patchogue, NY
      Dealer:    Mazda 112
      Teacher:   James Tyler
      Students:  Danny Archdeacon
                 Joe Napolitano

  Team Mazda
      School:    Orange-Ulster BOCES
      Dealer:    Middletown Mazda
      Teacher:   Joe Dolan
      Students:  Rob Dickson
                 Ed Kohler

  Team Pontiac
      School:    Islip Career Center
      Dealer:    Neil Pontiac, Inc.
      Teacher:   John Santoli
      Students:  Stefano Brucculer
                 Eugene Soto

  Team Pontiac
      School:    Thomas A. Edison Vocational/Technical High School,
                 Queens, NY
      Dealer:    Regan Pontiac-Buick-GMC Truck, Inc.
      Teacher:   James Massa
      Students:  Tauseef Mohamed
                 Miguel Sierra

  Team Scion
      School:    Thomas A. Edison Vocational/Technical High School,
                 Queens, NY
      Dealer:    Star Toyota of Bayside
      Teacher:   Daniel Gelfars
      Students:  Sandor Field
                 Damian Smith

  Team Subaru
      School:    L.A. Wilson Tech - Dix Hills, NY
      Dealer:    Browns Jeep-Chrysler-Subaru
      Teacher:   Chris Adikes
      Students:  Jason Lage
                 Dan Beverly

  Team Toyota
      School:    L.A. Wilson Tech - Northport, NY
      Dealer:    Smithtown Toyota
      Teacher:   Ralph Savarese
      Students:  Matt Iacono
                 Malav Oza

  Team Volvo
      School:    Southern Westchester BOCES
      Dealer:    Big Dee Auto Sales, Inc.
      Teacher:   Michael Ward
      Students:  Clifford Linke
                 Alejandro Oceguera

Sponsored by many of the biggest names in the automotive industry, GNYADA's National Automotive Technology Competition is a clear demonstration of the industry's strong commitment to excellence in automotive education. The Competition is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which devised and underwrites the Competition, represents nearly 650 franchised automobile dealerships in the metro area of New York, selling more than 700,000 new and used cars each year. The Association opened its doors in 1910 and has continued to serve the needs of the industry and the car-buying public ever since.

Follow Your New York Team to the National Finals!

http://www.nationalautotech.com/

New York Finals to be Held in Whitestone, Queens