Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition Crowns Nation's Best Young Automotive Technicians in a Head-to-Head Battle of Skill and Talent

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Jun 14, 2010, 09:06 ET

61st Annual Event Puts 50 State Championship Teams to the Test with a share of $11.5 Million in Scholarships on the Line

June 15: Meet the Future Stars of the U.S. Auto Industry

DEARBORN, Mich., June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following media alert is being released by AAA and Ford:

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WHAT:	The 61st National Finals of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills competition; 50 student teams representing each state square off in a timed competition that tests their automotive skills, with a record-high $11.5 million in scholarships to be awarded to the participants

DATE:	Two-day competition culminates on Tuesday, June 15

TIME:	8 a.m. — Pre-Event Activities Begin
	8:45 a.m. — Timed Hands-On Repair Competition Begins
	10:15 a.m. — Timed Hands-On Repair Competition Concludes
	11:45 a.m. (approximately) – National Champions Announced

WHERE:	Ford World Headquarters, One American Road, Dearborn, Mich.
	The competition will take place on the front lawn of Ford World Headquarters with the awards announcement held inside Ford World Headquarters' auditorium.

Each state is represented by a pair of students from the same high school and their instructor. A sample of feature stories from this year's field of state champions, include:

Sydne Mikesell, 17, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, posted the nation's highest score during the state competition and will be one of two female competitors making a run at the National Title
Daniel Sarzynski, 17, overcame brain cancer at the age of 7, and now the Baltimore resident has come full circle, partnering with 17-year old teammate Ernest Kuehne
Ryan Hastings and Andrew Michaluk of Ann Arbor, Mich., hope to lean on home-field advantage and recent success – Hastings' brother, Zachary, finished second in the 2007 National Finals — to tip the scales in their favor.

The 2010 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills began with 10,500 high school students and has been narrowed to 50 pairs of high school juniors and seniors representing their high schools and home states in a battle for the coveted title of best student auto tech team in the nation.

In addition to vying for a share of nearly $11.5 million in scholarships during the 2010 National Finals, the students also will compete for the opportunity to "job shadow" a Roush Fenway Racing NASCAR race team at its race shop and during a subsequent race weekend later this summer.

To prepare the next generation of automotive technicians, Ford and AAA have partnered to support automotive technology education in high schools across the country and encourage students to continue their education and pursue careers in the automotive service industry.

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Christie Hyde

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SOURCE AAA; Ford