PHOENIX and HOUSTON, July X, 2026—A team of aviation students from UTI-Houston placed second at the 2026 Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC), an annual event that brings together aviation maintenance students and industry professionals to compete in hands-on challenges that reflect real-world scenarios. The event was held in the spring alongside the MRO Americas conference in Orlando.
Supported by United Airlines, UTI-Houston students competed against more than 80 teams from the U.S. and abroad, including military and professional teams, to demonstrate their technical knowledge, precision and teamwork across a range of aviation maintenance tasks. The team achieved second place overall in the Schools Category among 47 teams.
UTI-Houston team competed against 84 total teams from the U.S. and abroad, placing 2nd overall in the “Schools” category among 47 school teams.
Under the guidance of instructors and coaches Joseph Parker and Noe Garcia, the team included:
Team Lead: Chad Small
Members: Colton Vanderploeg, Jaime Varela, Morgan Blair, Alex Rios
Alternates: Noah Beinhorn, Kaleb Schwart
“We are proud of our aviation students for their achievement at this prestigious competition,” said UTI-Houston Campus President Darrin Brust. “Opportunities like the Aerospace Maintenance Competition give students the chance to apply what they’ve learned in a real-world environment and gain experience that supports their transition into the workforce.”
UTI’s aviation programs are designed to prepare students for careers as aviation maintenance technicians through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on training aligned to industry needs. Programs are currently offered at UTI-Atlanta, UTI-Avondale (Ariz.), UTI-Canton (Ill.), UTI-Dallas, UTI-Houston, UTI-Long Beach (Calif), UTI-Miramar (Fla.), and UTI-San Antonio (Texas).
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Founded in 1965, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is a national leader in workforce solutions for transportation, skilled trades, healthcare and dental education programs. The company's industry-aligned programs are offered at 35 campuses nationwide and online under the brands Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and Concorde Career Colleges and include auto/diesel, aviation, welding, HVACR, electrical and energy, allied health, dental, nursing, patient care and diagnostic training. For more information, visit www.uti.edu or www.concorde.edu; LinkedIn at @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and @Concorde Career Colleges; or X at @news_UTI and @ConcordeCareer.
