New Mexico High School Students Compete to Be the Best Auto Technician in the State

ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/02/08 --

What: FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS, a fast-paced hands-on contest to diagnose and repair deliberately "bugged" vehicles.

When: Saturday, May 3, 2008 Competition 10:00 AM (sharp)-11:30 a.m.

Where: CNM Workforce Training Center, 5600 Eagle Rock Ave. NE (north of Alameda and west of I-25 frontage road)

Who: High school juniors and seniors from around the state enrolled in high school automotive technology courses.

Why: Prizes and scholarships will be awarded at the state level to high school students. The winning team will represent New Mexico at the national finals in Dearborn, Michigan, in June for a chance to win additional scholarships to further their education and to be recognized by AAA and Ford as the best student auto technician in the country.

The winning national team and a chaperone will job shadow David Ragan's pit crew at Roush Fenway Racing's shop in Concord, N.C. and then fly with the team to the Sprint Cup race in Joliet, Ill. the weekend of July 12.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the auto industry will need 35,000 new technicians every year through 2010. Ford and AAA have joined together to assure the next generation of well- trained auto technicians will be there to provide service to the motoring public.

History: Last year, more than 6,000 high school juniors and seniors in all 50 states competed in the 2007 competition.

The event also will feature the regional finals for the Ford Ultimate Master Technician Contest that pits Ford's finest mechanics against each other for cash and valuable prizes. The winner will go to the national finals.

2008 Ford / AAA Student Auto Skills Hands-On Participants List - New Mexico

School Instructor Students --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Artesia High School Steven Barley Orlando Babezuela Billie Roach

Career Enrichment Center Mark Mulroy William Adams Dylan Hardy

Dexter High School Eric Gomez Matt Batista Carlos Cruz

Eldorado High School Peter Pacheco John Meisenheimer Cale Binspahr

Gadsden High School Armando Carrasco Francisco Segura Angel Rivera

Highland High School Craig Spreacker Anthony Marquez Elias Lopez

Magdalena High School Bryan Baca Ryan Milligan Ryan Sanders

New Mexico Ricky Najera Juan Ornelas Junior College Derek Rice

San Juan College Tech. Mike Tinski Justan Stuart Ed. Ctr. Tyray Jensen

Valencia High School Chris Martinez Nicholas Baca Charles Lee

For Information Contact: Anne O'Ryan 512-925-3710 (cell)

2008-05-02 18:41:17 0351851 MARKETWIRE