Who Will Be America's Next Top Auto Mechanic?

Story:  

With new cars getting increasingly sophisticated, as more and more high-tech gizmos and gadgets are added, so too must the young men and women who will service and repair them in the future.  Watch this year's brightest high school automotive education students from all over the U.S. battle it out to see who will be named America's Top Technician at the 2011 National Automotive Technology Competition. At stake is $3.5 million in scholarships and prizes.

Who:  

High school seniors from all over the U.S. have competed locally and are representing their state in the National Automotive Technology Competition. The National Finals will take place April 27 at the New York International Automobile Show.

What:  

It's a test of skill, a measure of knowledge, and a race against time, all rolled into one. Each two-person team of high school vocational education students must diagnose and repair a number of problems under a car's hood against the stopwatch.  Each "bug" correctly repaired is worth a number of points, depending on the level of difficulty. The student's overall knowledge is also tested through a series of written and workstation tests.

Visual:  

The contest will feature the 30 two-person teams of high school technicians under the cars' hoods racing to repair them.

When:

Wednesday, April 27th    

8.30 a.m. -- Opening Ceremony

9.00 a.m. -- 12 Noon Competition

Where:

New York International Automobile Show

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets, New York, NY

Why:

There is currently an annual shortage of 60,000 technicians nationwide.  This nationally recognized competition motivates students and teachers, helping raise education standards.

www.NationalAutoTech.com