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Washington Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition Finals

22 April 1998

Washington State's Best High School Automotive Students Compete in State Finals of Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition

    BELLEVUE, Wash., April 22 -- Washington state's 20 best high
school automotive students will test their competency in computer diagnostics,
automotive adeptness and their mechanical IQ when 10 two-student teams compete
against each other and the clock in the 1998 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills
contest to be held next month.  On May 8, these teams will be placed in a
head-to-head competition to quickly and accurately diagnose and repair
deliberately disabled, or "bugged," vehicles at the state finals.  The
competition, to be held at Renton Technical College, 3000 N.E. Fourth Street,
Renton, begins at 10 a.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
    The contest involved a written examination given to approximately
6,000 students nationally and in Washington state, 10 two-student teams
evolved as qualifiers for the hands-on competition.  Thus, these students are
tested both on complex mathematical equations, as well as highly-advanced
computer diagnostics skills.  And, since computers now control more than
80 percent of the functions of a new vehicle, the next generation of
automotive technicians will rely on brain power more than muscle power to keep
today's and tomorrow's sophisticated cars up to speed.
    "The written qualifying exam and the hands-on finals are designed to test
the type of skills needed to repair modern, high-tech vehicles," said
John Milbrath, director of AAA Washington's Automotive Services department.
"Contestants will need to know as much about computers as they will about
basic mechanics to be successful," he added.
    The state's champion team will represent Washington at the Student Auto
Skills national finals in Washington, D.C. in June.  The team will also earn a
spot in the Ford Motor Co.'s ASSET (Automotive Student Service Educational
Training) program, including scholarships to associate degree automotive
technology programs and paid apprenticeships at Ford or Lincoln Mercury
dealerships.

                1998 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition
                     Washington State's Qualifying Teams

    Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground
    Shawn Whisenhunt and James Harper
    Kurt Sitton, Instructor

    Lake Roosevelt High School, Coulee Dam
    Nelson Ford and Zeb Horton
    Steven Hood, Instructor

    Tri Tech Skills Center, Kennewick
    Michael Hubbard and David Carlson
    Richard Ousse, Instructor

    Kentridge High School, Kent
    Jason Deschambault and Daniel Huffman
    Roy Voelker, Instructor

    North Thurston High School, Lacey
    Phillip Thomas and Douglas Baldwin
    Brian Stretch, Instructor

    Timberline High School, Lacey
    John Cooley and Brandan Bates
    David Livesay, Instructor

    R.A. Long High School, Longview
    Chris Blair and Ryan Larsen
    Randy Bailey, Instructor

    Richland High School, Richland
    Adam Perkins and Sean Totten
    Dale Hill, Instructor

    Clark County Skills Center, Vancouver
    Nathan Force and Christopher Warren
    Jim Neiman, Instructor

    Clark County Skills Center, Vancouver
    Colby Seibold and Jacob Kanooth
    Kirk VanGelder, Instructor

SOURCE  AAA Washington