ASE Education Foundation to Support Student Automotive Competitions in Texas

The ASE Education Foundation will be on site offering support and educational resources for two upcoming student automotive competitions in Texas.

On Nov. 15, executives from the ASE Education Foundation will discuss educational and career opportunities during the Houston Auto Dealers Association (HADA) event at the San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. Twenty teams will also vie for the chance to advance to the state championship at the North Texas Auto Tech competition at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on December 6-7.

Beginning in September, students started training at participating HADA dealerships for a minimum of 15 hours to prepare for the competition and learn the skills that are needed on a daily basis to be professional service technicians. During these sessions, the dealership staff imparts crucial skills on the students such as navigating service information, utilizing factory scan tools, conducting vehicle inspections, implementing diagnostic procedures and refining communication skills for repair documentation.

"The automotive industry is facing a critical shortage of skilled technicians, and the HADA student technician competition plays a vital role in addressing that need," said RoShelle Salinas, executive vice president of HADA. "Our event not only gives students hands-on experience and exposure to a future career, but it also engages their families, who are key influencers in shaping their educational paths. We are thrilled to have doubled the team participation this year to 20 teams, which speaks to the growing interest and opportunities in this field. Last year, at least eight students were hired either immediately after the competition or upon graduating high school, highlighting the direct impact this event has in bridging the gap between education and employment."

The North Texas Automobile Dealers (NTXAD) will host the fifth annual Auto Tech Competition (ATC) on Dec. 6-7 at Texas Motor Speedway. High school seniors from 45 schools will compete, offering students a unique opportunity to showcase their skills against their peers and the clock. In addition to competing for scholarships and prizes, students are paired with local new car dealerships for mentorship and training, putting them on the path to filling a critical gap for skilled auto technicians throughout the automotive industry.

"This competition arose out of the need to introduce Texans to a great career and to create a workforce for our North Texas auto dealerships, and it is working," said C. Brent Franks, NTXAD president. "We have more schools than ever, including some from outside of North Texas, and more highly qualified students ready to take on the challenge to take that first step into a rewarding career path after high school graduation. NTXAD has placed 78 students to work in new car and truck dealerships in the last year."

1503 Edwards Ferry Rd. NE, Suite 401, Leesburg, VA 20176 The first, second and third-place winners receive thousands of dollars in tools from Snap-on ® for each team member to help them start their career; scholarships provided by the Carroll Shelby Foundation and NTXAD members to the NTXAD Fast Track Automotive Technician Training program, which combines hands-on classroom instruction in conjunction with employment opportunities in a new car and truck dealership service center during a concentrated five-week training course; www.AutoTechEducation.com.

"We are honored to partner with HADA and NTXAD on these student automotive competitions and we thank these two organizations for allowing us to connect with the student competitors and show them the value of working as an automotive service professional," said Mike Coley, ASE Education Foundation president. "HADA and NTXAD are addressing the technician shortage head-on by hosting these events and showing these high school students the wide array of careers that are available."

About the ASE Education Foundation

The ASE Education Foundation provides proven solutions to the technician shortage, working with over 2,300 automotive technology training programs and over 100,000 students nationally to provide the transportation industry a skilled entry level workforce through standards and credentials for institutions and individuals. The Foundation also offers career development and workplace exposure by creating relationships and partnerships with employers. For more information, visit www.ASEeducationFoundation.org.