America's Top Automotive Service Technology students crowned at SkillsUSA National Championships

Hundreds of automotive students gathered in Kansas City for a showdown for all the gold at SkillsUSA. Armed with their tool boxes, they represented the top automotive and motorcycle repair students from around the country.

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When the final horn sounded, four students claimed the gold medals, taking home the country’s top honors in their competitions, along with scholarships, prize money and new tools.

During the automotive service technology competition contestants demonstrated their ability to perform jobs and skills based on the task list outlined by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). Workstations consisted of on-vehicle, simulations, bench and component testing and a written test. Contestants were judged on technical competency, accuracy, quality, safety and ability to follow directions.

The winners were:

James Lassmann (Gold)
High School
Clear Springs High School
League City, TX

Ivan G Lunsford (Silver)
High School
Carlsbad High School
Carlsbad, NM

Gordon D Sabin (Bronze)
High School
Decatur High School
Federal Way, WA

Josh Myers (Gold)
Postsecondary
Ranken Tech College
Saint Louis, MO

Greg Dollens (Silver)
Postsecondary
Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA

Dan Goldade (Bronze)
Postsecondary
Bismarck State College
Bismarck, ND

Motorcycle Service Technology

In the motorcycle service technology competition, contestants performed tasks representative of those encountered in a dealership's service department. Technical skills included performing scheduled maintenance tasks; use of service, electrical diagnostic and parts manuals; electrical diagnostics; precision measurement; brake service; chassis/suspension service; fuel delivery system inspection and repair; transmission and drive systems; power train systems; on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Judges looked for clean and organized work habits; correct use of reference materials; the ability to follow directions; and good technical skills

The winners included:

Bryan Broome (Gold)
High School
South Technical High School
Sunset Hills, MO

Tyler Hollopeter (Silver)
High School
Medina County JVS
Medina, OH

Tyler Pavlick (Bronze) High School Ramona High School Ramona, CA

Matthew Bretzing (Gold)
Postsecondary
Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, UT

Jeremy Talley (Silver)
Postsecondary
Lake Washington Tech College
Kirkland, WA

Duane O'Marro Jr. (Bronze)
Postsecondary
ND State College of Science
Fargo, ND

SkillsUSA returned to Kansas City on June 23-27, 2012 for its 48th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students. Quality career and technical education was the centerpiece of the conference. More than 15,000 students, teachers, education leaders, and representatives from more than 1,100 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions participated in the event with 94 hands-on skill and leadership competitions. SkillsUSA organizes this event, and it is considered the single greatest day of industry volunteerism in America every year at an estimated cost of more than $35 million. Each SkillsUSA Championships contestant is a state-level gold medalist.

Begun in 1967, the SkillsUSA Championships has grown from 54 competitors in three contests to more than 5,600 competitors in 94 hands-on skill and leadership contests this year. SkillsUSA adds contests to the SkillsUSA Championships to meet the demands of new and expanding occupations. SkillsUSA affiliated instructional programs represent 130 different occupational areas.

For more information, visit www.skillsusa.org.