“We congratulate all the competitors who participated in this years’ Top Tech and Auto Tech Challenges,” said Robert Kessler, campus president at NASCAR Technical Institute. “These competitions and opportunities provide invaluable exposure to real-world, future automotive careers. We are pleased to have welcomed these students onto our campus and were impressed by their initiative to explore these growing industries.”
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 23, 2023) – NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc (NYSE: UTI) and a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation and skilled trades education programs, welcomed high school students from around the region to compete for a total of $76,000 in grants using in-demand automotive technology skills and knowledge in two separate competitions - the Top Tech Challenge and the Auto Tech Challenge.
Students on the winning team of two, Joshua Suarez and Noah Fox from South Iredell High School, demonstrated proficiency in all competitive areas. They can now advance their skill sets by utilizing their $10,000 UTI grant at one of 16 UTI, MMI or NASCAR Tech-branded campuses nationwide.
Tanner Goodwin and Axel Garcia from Hamilton Career & Technical Center finished second, each walking away with a $7,5000 grant, and Skyler Smith and Brighton Smith came in third, winning $5,000 grants.
“We congratulate all the competitors who participated in this years’ Top Tech and Auto Tech Challenges,” said Robert Kessler, campus president at NASCAR Technical Institute. “These competitions and opportunities provide invaluable exposure to real-world, future automotive careers. We are pleased to have welcomed these students onto our campus and were impressed by their initiative to explore these growing industries.”
In its second year, the Auto Tech Challenge allows academic students without a traditional vocational education to compete individually for grants. Angel Ramirez from Davidson Early College took top honors in that competition, earning a $7,000 UTI grant. Hohverg Palacios-Poxtan from Smokey Mountain High School placed second for a $5,000 grant, and Gavin Edwards came in third, winning a $3,000 grant.
The automotive industry is projected to experience increased demand for highly trained professionals due to growth, net replacements and retirements from the trade. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, the transportation industry will have to fill more than 101,000 combined auto and diesel technician job openings annually on average through 2031. [1]
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the “Company”) was founded in 1965 and is a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation, skilled trades and healthcare education programs, whose mission is to serve students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers across a number of highly-skilled fields. The Company is comprised of two divisions: Universal Technical Institute (“UTI”) and Concorde Career Colleges (“Concorde”). UTI operates 16 campuses located in 9 states and offers a wide range of transportation and skilled trades technical training programs under brands such as UTI, MIAT College of Technology, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, Marine Mechanics Institute and NASCAR Technical Institute. Concorde operates across 17 campuses in 8 states, offering programs in the Allied Health, Dental, Nursing, Patient Care and Diagnostic fields. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu, or visit us on LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges or on Twitter @news_UTI or @ConcordeCareer.
1 The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the national average annual job openings in each of the following occupations between 2021 and 2031 will be: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, 73,300; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, 28,500. Job openings include openings due to net employment changes and net replacements. See Table 1.10 Occupational separations and openings, projected 2021–31, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed January 23, 2023. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
