NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sara Panza
Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers’ Association
440.746.1500
GCADA Challenges All Automotive Tech High School Seniors
Cleveland, OH (December 10, 2010)— The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers Association (GCADA) is challenging all automotive high school seniors to test their skills against the very best Northern Ohio has to offer in the 19th Annual Automotive Technology Competition. Held in cooperation with the Cleveland Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com, the competition measures the technical and diagnostic capabilities of the contestants and evaluates their academic preparation.
Contestants compete for scholarships prizes, trophies and automotive tools.
“The first phase of the competition is a written examination, which will be administered on Friday, January 14,” says Dennis Rose, floor manager of the Cleveland Auto Show. “Automotive instructors from across Northern Ohio are encouraged to bring four outstanding students to either Cuyahoga Community College in Parma or Stark State College in North Canton to take the written exam.”
Winners of the first phase of the competition will be chosen by the students’ total combined test scores. The five best two person teams will then qualify for the “hands-on” portion of the competition, which will be held during the Cleveland Auto Show on Sunday, February 27, 2011.
“That’s when they will have to diagnose and find various bugs that have been planted in the vehicles,” Rose says.
Winners of the “hands-on” phase of the competition will win scholarships to their choice of one of four area colleges, including: Cuyahoga Community College; Ohio Technical College; the University of Northwestern Ohio, or Stark State College. Each of those colleges offers an outstanding automotive tech training program. The first place prize includes a $4,000 scholarship for each team member. Second place is a $750 scholarship for each team member, while third place team members are awarded a $600 scholarship.
“This is a chance for the very best and brightest high school senior automotive technology students to shine, while winning scholarships that will help further their education and careers,” Bill Burke, chairman of the GCADA and the 2011 Cleveland Auto Show says. “Many of the past winners have not only gone on to college, but also onto lucrative careers as automotive technicians in area dealerships.”
To register students for the upcoming written examination, or to receive other details of the contest, contact Dennis Rose at drose@gcada.org. Automotive technology students are also encouraged to attend Automotive Career Day, scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2011.
About the Cleveland Auto Show
The Cleveland Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com, marks the start of the spring selling season in Northeast Ohio. This year’s show runs from February 26th through March 6th, 2011. Featuring concept, pre- production and production vehicles from the world’s auto manufacturers, the show is held annually at the I-X Center with nearly 1.2 million square feet of exhibits, with free parking compliments of your new motor vehicle dealer. The Show also features an array of entertainment including sports celebrity appearances from the Browns, Cavs and OSU and NASCAR. The Cleveland Auto Show is a consumer show and a favorite family tradition since 1903. Buy tickets online at www.clevelandautoshow.com.
About the GCADA
The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association (GCADA) has served the retail-automobile industry and community with integrity and distinction since 1903. Today, located in Brecksville, Ohio, GCADA represents 240 franchised motor vehicle dealers, which includes new-car, truck, motorcycle and RV dealers in a 21-county region of northern Ohio along the Lake Erie shore and beyond. More information on the GCADA can be found at www.gcada.org.
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