SkillsUSA AUTO COMPETITION BY ADAM MEMMOLO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR, NHADA On Friday, April 4, we had the privilege of co-hosting the SkillsUSA Auto Competition here in New Hampshire. This event brought together students competing for exciting prizes and the chance to represent the state at the National SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta. Thanks to the generous support of our members at MB Tractor, Nucar, TMS Diesel and Key Collision, we were able to provide toolboxes filled with top-quality tools for our top finalists! In addition to the toolboxes, finalists also received a $1,500 scholarship. Talk about raising the stakes! Of course, they also earned some serious bragging rights along with gold, silver and bronze medals in each of the four categories. Nearly 60 students from around the state joined us at Lakes Region Community College and Nashua Community College to test their skills in categories including Power Equipment, Diesel, Maintenance and Light Repair, College-Level Automotive Service Technology, and Collision — spanning both Refinishing and Collision Repair. Marc Pouliot from White Mountains Community College ran the Diesel event with support from TMS Diesel and other volunteers. The Lakes Region Community College team, along with additional volunteers, managed the Maintenance and Light Repair and Automotive Service Technology events. MB Tractor took charge of the Power Equipment portion, while Nashua Community College, together with other industry partners, oversaw both Collision categories. Students were tested on more than just technical skills like electrical work, automotive measurements and parts identification — they also completed soft skills assessments focused on customer service. To kick things off, each student submitted a resume at registration. Throughout the day, volunteers monitored the students’ progress across various stations and ensured their safety. By the end of the competition, everyone was understandably tired, but the students could finally take a breath — they had done their best, and all that was left was waiting for the judges to tally the scores. On the evening of May 11, we gathered at Salem High School to announce the finalists. The winners of the gold, silver and bronze medals were invited onto the stage to receive their recognition. We were proud to be a part of such an incredible event that not only supports students but also generates excitement for the career opportunities in the automotive industry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app =desktop&v=3cnI5GYnwKM&t=1s To watch a video of the collision winners, scan this QR code. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?app=desktop&v=C_viLxpuxcw To watch a video of the automotive winners, scan this QR code. https://www.youtube.com/watch?a pp=desktop&v=KKl2DCX-vWc To learn more about the SkillsUSA Auto Competition, scan this QR code. 18
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