BLOOMMFIED, NJ- Universal Technical Institute’s (NYSE: UTI) Bloomfield campus welcomed high school students from New Jersey and surrounding areas to compete for grants using in-demand automotive technology skills and knowledge. UTI offered a total of $301,800 in tuition grants to winners.
23 two-person teams from 22 participating high school vocational and automotive programs went head-to-head at the campus for UTI Bloomfield’s Top Tech Challenge. The teams competed in both hands-on and written tests on vehicle parts, engines, diagnostics, and electrical systems using Bloomfield’s state-of-the-industry facility and equipment. Each student placing on a top 6 team won a scholarship, ranging from 100 percent of tuition for first place to 25 percent of tuition for 4th through 6th place finishes:
- Slade McChesney and Daniel Wasowicz from Bergen Technical came in first place and received scholarships for 100 percent of their tuition to UTI.
- In second place receiving scholarships worth 75 percent of their tuition was Johnathan Barsati and Wilson Caceres Alvarez from Thomas Edison High School.
- The third place team of Joe Rinaldo and Sam Pizza from Wayne Hills High School received scholarships for 50 percent of their tuition.
- The 4th through 6th place teams received scholarships for 25 percent of their tuition – Joseph Valko and David Rodriguez from Hunterdon County Polytech, Jonathan Valencia and Jason Cerna from Thomas Edison Technical Academy, and Zameer Dilawar and Naatram Jotis from A-Tech High School.
“The demand for skilled technicians is strong and there are many career opportunities in the field. It is incredibly valuable for high school students to learn about opportunities the automotive sector as a next step after graduation,” said UTI Bloomfield President Shawn Alexander. “Our campuses have been hosting the Top Tech Challenge competition for more than a decade now, and we’re always impressed by students’ depth of knowledge. We have 30 leading manufacturer partners and thousands of local employers who look to UTI to help train the next generation of technicians, and this is a great way for us to encourage and reward students’ interest in the automotive and transportation industry.”
The automotive industry needs highly trained professionals due to growth and retirements from the trade[1]. For more information or to enroll in a UTI program, please visit www.uti.edu.
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About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) mission is to serve our students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers. Approximately 250,000 students have graduated from one of UTI's 14 campuses located across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. UTI's campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), while its employer-aligned technical training programs are offered under four brands: Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute / Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology. For more information and a complete list of all programs offered, please visit www.uti.edu or follow-on LinkedIn @UniversalTechnicalInstituteand on Twitter @news_UTI.
[1] The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that total national employment for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics will be 705,900 by 2030. See Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2020 and projected 2030, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed November 18, 2021. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary. Updated on November 18, 2021.
