BCTC STUDENTS TAKE FIRST PLACE IN REGIONAL AUTOMOTIVE COMPETITION

Vince Fichera, Boyertown Area School District, and Eric Kohl, Exeter Area School District, seniors at Berks Career and Technology Center, East Campus, captured first prize at the Ninth Annual Greater Philadelphia Automotive Technology Competition held on March 1, 2002. Fred Beans Ford, Boyertown, sponsored the team.

Ten school teams from Pennsylvania and New Jersey qualified for the competition and traveled to the event sponsored by the Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Philadelphia. Joseph Koller and Stanton Painter, both from Fleetwood Area School District and students at Berks Career and Technology Center, West Campus, also participated in the competition.

During the contest, students performed diagnostic tests and made repairs to cars at six workstations. Problem areas included engine repair, ABS disc brakes, alignment and tire balancing, on-board diagnostics, fuel injection charging systems, and air conditioning. The teams also had to perform a pre-delivery inspection of a new Ford Explorer. A score of 1,000 points demonstrated perfection; the team of Fichera and Kohl scored 915 points.

Fichera and Kohl each received $11,500 in scholarships to various post-secondary educational institutions, as well as tools, clothing, manuals and other items from automotive suppliers. In April, they will compete at the national finals in New York City. After graduation from high school, both students plan to further their education by earning associate's degrees in automotive technology and hope to pursue careers in the auto industry.
.