Cupertino Students Win State Auto Repair Championship

11 May 1999

Cupertino Students Win State Auto Repair Championship; Winning Time of 27:59 in Hands-On Contest puts Deanza North ROP in National Finals

    SAN FRANCISCO--May 10, 1999--A team of two students from Deanza North ROP in Cupertino combined detailed knowledge of high-tech automotive repair and fast-paced teamwork to win the state finals of the FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest.
    Jason Levinson and Dave Decker, both 18 years old, won the state auto repair championship on May 7 in Sacramento. They will compete for the national title against two-person teams from every other state on June 21 in Washington D.C. The students earned spots in the Ford Motor Co.'s ASSET (Automotive Student Serve Educational Training) program, including scholarships to associate degree automotive technology programs. They also won a Ford vehicle for use by their school's automotive technology program. The team's instructor is Les Schwoob.
    Renato Silva and Ben Neel, both 18 years old, from Lincoln High School in Lincoln took second-place honors. Their instructor is Richard Fields. Patrick Shans and Jose Ortiz from Central Co. Occupational Center in San Jose placed third. Their instructor is Dave Walters.
    The state championship was determined by the combination of a written qualifying exam and the team's performance in a hands-on competition to quickly diagnose and accurately repair a deliberately disabled Ford vehicle.
    "These students are outstanding representatives of the next generation of auto service technicians," said Bronwyn Hogan, AAA spokeswoman. "They have high-tech skills and understand the importance of old-fashioned hard work and dedication."
    The contest calls attention to the need for automotive technicians to develop the high-tech skills required to service increasingly advanced automobiles. Currently, more than 85 percent of the functions on a new vehicle are computer-controlled and cars are becoming more complex with each passing year.
    The California contest was one of the 50 state competitions being held this month. The FORD/AAA STUDENT AUTO SKILLS contest will award approximately $10 million in scholarships and prizes nationwide and is held to encourage students to pursue rewarding career opportunities in automotive service.
    Established nearly 100 years ago, AAA offers a wide variety of automotive, insurance, travel and financial services for its nearly four million members. The California State Automobile Association, with members in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, is the second largest regional affiliate of the national AAA organization.

    Note to Editors: Photo of each team is available.