SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Feb. 2, 2012 - The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Foundation's Drive To Succeed Video Competition received entries from around the country. The Drive To Succeed Judging Committee narrowed down the video pool to eight finalists in two categories – Why I Want to be a Technician and Why My High School Auto Shop Needs a Make-Over. The videos were posted on Facebook® for popular voting from January 11-18, 2012, and nearly 20,000 votes were received for the 16 finalists. The UTI Foundation awarded $80,000 in scholarships and prizes to the following Drive To Succeed video contest winners:
Why My High School Auto Shop Needs a Make-Over – winners receive tools, equipment and shop upgrades thanks to sponsors like Universal Technical Institute, Snap-On® and Bridgestone/Firestone.
$25,000 – First Place – Oak Lawn High School – Oak Lawn, IL – with 3,320 votes
$10,000 – Second Place – Wayne Hills High School – Wayne, NJ – with 2,483 votes
$5,000 – Third Place – Washington High School – Freemont, CA – with 2,365 votes
Why I Want to Be a Technician – winners receive a scholarship to attend any of the 11 Universal Technical Institute campuses across the country.
$25,000 – First Place – Julio Cesar Romero, Tri-Rivers Career Center – Marion, OH – with 2,431 votes
$10,000 – Second Place – Matthew Lewis, Union County High School – Union, SC – with 2,347 votes
$5,000 – Third Place – Maxwell Platt, Nashville High School – Nashville, AR – with 430 votes
"The Drive To Succeed video competition is all about turning dreams into reality for deserving students," said Veronica Meury, vice president and executive director, UTI Foundation. "The competition celebrates the passion and creativity that students invest in the videos and encourages a spirit of collaboration. The imagination we see in the videos is only a small representation of the ambition and excellence for which UTI students are known."
The Why I Want to Be a Technician Contest was open to high school seniors across the country interested in careers as professional automotive, motorcycle, diesel, collision repair, marine and NASCAR technicians. High school students and instructors could enter the Why My High School Auto Shop Needs a Make-Over.
Winning videos can be viewed on the UTI Foundation's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/utifoundation.
About UTI Foundation:
The UTI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Arizona nonprofit, is the umbrella organization for all Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) not-for-profit initiatives and is dedicated to raising funds to support and encourage technical education for the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, NASCAR and other transportation industries through scholarships, grants, career development and other special programs. For more information, visit www.utifoundation.net.
1) UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For important information about the educational debt, earnings and completion rates of students who attended this program, and to review the applicable Gainful Employment disclosure, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosures.
5) UTI programs prepare graduates for careers in industries using the provided training, primarily as automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a technician, such as: parts associate, service writer, fabricator, paint and paint prep, and shop owner/operator. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
14) Incentive programs and employee eligibility are at the discretion of the employer and available at select locations. Special conditions may apply. Talk to potential employers to learn more about the programs available in your area. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.