NAFTC Welcomes Auto Skills Competition State Finalists

The National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) welcomed the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition state finalists on Tuesday, May 16, with a tour of its headquarters and a presentation on alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) and advanced technology vehicles. The NAFTC hosted the group, which was in Morgantown to take part in the hands-on portion of the auto skills competition.

The objective of the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition is to encourage high school students to pursue careers as automotive service technicians. Those that score highest on a written qualifying exam move on to a hands-on competition, which involves diagnosing and repairing a new Ford Motor Company vehicle that has been bugged with malfunctions. Workmanship, speed, and accuracy are determining factors, and the winning team from each state then moves on to the national finals.

Students in Morgantown for the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition received a tour of NAFTC Headquarters, including the NAFTC’s automotive shop and the Miles ZX40, a neighborhood electric vehicle. Credit: NAFTC

As the demand for specialized automotive service technicians is great, the Consortium was pleased to educate the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition group on AFVs and advanced technology vehicles. The thirty-six junior and senior high school students and instructors viewed the NAFTC’s biodiesel production unit, a natural-gas powered car, and two electric vehicles. More information on the Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition can be found at www.autoskills.com.