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No Comments [ Add Comment ]Get Your Motors Running ... / Automotive students gather at WSU for annual competition
By Brooke NelsonOGDEN -- Rock crawlers, hot rods and custom paint jobs -- these are all things young automotive technology students love.
Something they may not love? Tests.
But it was a 50-question exam Thursday that drew more than 550 students from Utah, Nevada, Idaho and Wyoming to Weber State University.
More than 45 high schools brought automotive teams for the written part of the annual automotive tech competition, and the 24 top-scoring schools will be invited back for a hands-on competition round in February.
"It's a great opportunity for students to see other schools, see what the demand is in the field and see what potential their future may hold for them in the industry," said Charlie Nielson, an instructor at Roy High School.
Knowledge of engines, brakes, collision repair, customer service, steering systems and other mechanical elements was tested.
To help entice students to participate in the competition, the young auto techs were able to view more than 50 specialty vehicles and watch airbrush artist Craig Fraser in action.
Charlie Hutton from The Learning Channel show "Overhaulin" also spoke to the students.
"I'm excited to see this much enthusiasm from you guys," Hutton said.
"The biggest thing I can tell you is to follow your dream."
Hutton said his family members tried to steer him away from the industry, telling him to "get a real job," but his passion for cars was too great.
Local automotive technology teachers say the industry is one of the largest in the world and ripe with opportunities for students.
Students qualified for the competition through attendance, grade point average and skill shown in automotive classes.
"It sparks up anybody's day to see a hot rod," said Adam Thurman, a junior at Clearfield High, one of several Davis County schools to advance to the next round.
Many of the students said their favorite part of the day was looking at the rock crawlers.
"They're really cool," said Carl Morrell, a Clearfield senior.
"It's in a low enough gear it can climb a tree."
Weber State is one of just a handful of schools in the nation with a four-year degree from which major manufacturers recruit.
"We have partnerships with five of the largest manufacturers in the automotive industry," said John Kelly, automotive department chairman at WSU.
This is the 23rd year the university has hosted the competition, and Kelly said it is one of the largest recruitment events the program has.
Weber State currently offers seven associate degrees and three bachelor's degrees in automotive tech.
"One of my favorite things is, they find out how much they don't know," said Davis Applied Technology College instructor Tom Housley of the test. "It's motivation to get more education and training."
Students said the chance to meet with automotive celebrities Fraser and Hutton was worth sitting through the exam.
"Watching Fraser airbrush was pretty sweet," said Layton High senior Garrett Hendrickson.
"Anyone can do it. You just have to follow your dreams."
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