Foundation Hosts 30th Annual Auto Technology Competition

East Norriton, Pa., March 6, 2023 – The Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation celebrated its 30th Annual Greater Philadelphia Auto Technology Competition (Tech Comp) on Friday, March 3. At the event, 24 area high school seniors put their automotive skills to the test in a hands-on technician skills challenge and competed for more than $1 million in scholarships, tools and prizes. First place honors went to Patrick Gallelli and Conor McGlinchey of Middle Bucks Institute of Technology. They were led by Instructor Robert Schwarz and sponsored by Keystone Volvo Cars. The first-place duo walked away with more than $285,000 in scholarships and prizes collectively.

During the timed, hands-on automotive technical skills competition, students tested their knowledge at 10 workstations and performed a Multi-Point Inspection of a new vehicle. The competing teams are all local and from the following area schools: Berks Career and Technology Center – East, Berks Career and Technology Center – West, Burlington County Institute of Technology, Delaware County Technical High School, Eastern Center for Arts and Technology, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, North Montco Technical Career Center, Swenson Arts & Technology High School, Technical College High School – Brandywine, Technical College High School – Pennock’s Bridge and Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center.

Second place went to North Montco Technical Career Center’s Robert Knab and Troy Siegfried, which collectively won more than $188,000 in prizes. The team was sponsored by JL Freed Honda and led by Instructor Joseph Simes. Third place was captured by Jason Zatyczyc and Luke Sanders of Western Montgomery Career & Tech Center. Instructed by Donald Bray and sponsored by Nissan 422 of Limerick, the third-place team walked away with more than $97,000 in winnings.

Auto technicians of the 21st Century must have highly-polished math and computer skills in addition to mechanical aptitude. This competition focuses on all those skill sets. The first part of the regional competition involved a 110-question written exam in December. The exam covered electric vehicle safety and the eight National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) areas of the automobile, which are Engine Repair, Engine Performance, Electrical/Electronic Systems, Brakes, Heating and Air Conditioning, Suspension and Steering, Manual Drive Train and Axles and Automatic Transmissions. There were approximately 80 students who took the written exam. The two highest scoring students from the top 12 schools are those who qualified for the March 3rd hands-on competition. Photos from the event as well as additional information can be found here.

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