High School Students Compete for Nearly $30,000 in Scholarships at NASCAR Technical Institute
High-demand careers, skills featured during Top Tech Challenge competition
MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Universal Technical Institute’s (UTI) Mooresville, N.C. campus, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), welcomed students from around the Charlotte area and the region to compete for a total of $29,500 in scholarships, using in-demand automotive technology skills and knowledge.
15 teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia went head-to-head at the campus on Saturday, competing in both hands-on and written tests on vehicle parts, engines, diagnostics and electrical systems using NASCAR Tech’s state-of-the-industry facility and equipment. Each student placing on a top 10 team won a scholarship ranging from $10,000 for first place to $1,000 for a fourth through 10th place finish.
Students on the winning team of two, Eric Kehe and Zachary Foster of Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, N.C., demonstrated know-how in all competitive areas. They can now advance their skill sets by investing their $10,000 scholarships at any one of Universal Technical Institute’s 12 campuses nationwide.
“It is incredibly valuable for high school students to have the opportunity to develop these skills in automotive technology, and we always look forward to celebrating their achievements,” said Jennifer Bergeron, campus president at NASCAR Technical Institute. “Our campuses have been hosting the Top Tech Challenge competition for more than a decade now, and each time we’re impressed by students’ breadth and depth of knowledge. We have more than 30 leading manufacturer partners and thousands of local employers who look to UTI to train the next generation of technicians, and this is a great way for us to encourage and reward students’ interest in the transportation industry.”
Tyler Tho and Thomas McCullough of South Iredell High School in Statesville, N.C. finished second, walking away with a $7,500 scholarship, and Nevan Hopkins and Khy Meyers of Hamilton Career Center in Westminster, S.C. came in third, winning a $5,000 scholarship.
The automotive industry needs highly trained professionals due to growth and retirements from the trade. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 61,000 service technician and mechanic job openings annually on average through 2029.
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About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.:
With more than 220,000 graduates in its 55-year history, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the nation’s leading provider of technical training for automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, and offers welding technology and computer numerical control (CNC) machining programs. The company has built partnerships with industry leaders, outfits its state-of-the-industry facilities with current technology, and delivers training that is aligned with employer needs. Through its network of 12 campuses nationwide, UTI offers post-secondary programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). The company is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
For more information, visit www.uti.edu. Like UTI on www.facebook.com/UTI or follow UTI on Twitter @UTITweet, @MMITweet, and @NASCARTechUTI.
About NASCAR Tech:
NASCAR Tech’s Mooresville, N.C. campus also offers the Universal Technical Institute core automotive training program, CNC Machining Technology and Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training with Ford, Nissan and Mopar, and an optional 15-week elective to train students for a career in motorsports, including hands-on training in engines, fabrication, welding, aerodynamics and pit crew essentials. Through NASCAR Tech’s elite Spec Engine program, select students have the opportunity to build engines that will compete in NASCAR-sanctioned races.
Media Contact:
Faye Shroff
Breaking Limits for NASCAR Technical Institute
fshroff@breakinglimits.net
(704) 591-4353