AutoZone Awards $10,000 to Top Skills Students

The $10,000 automotive industry-focused scholarship was divided among the gold, silver and bronze medal winners of the SkillsUSA National Championship, Automotive Service Technology competition recently held in Kansas City, Mo.

AutoZone Future Technician Scholarship Winners were: Scott Tonelli of Grafton High School in Grafton, Wisc., the gold medal winner; Jack Frederick of Wichita High School North in Wichita, Kan., the silver medalist; and Devan Fletcher of Mascenic Regional High School in New Ipswich, N.H., the bronze medal winner.

“The AutoZone Future Technician Scholarship was created to provide an incentive to high school students seeking post-secondary educations, help build automotive career option awareness and infuse highly-qualified professionals into the workforce,” said Bill Rhodes, president and CEO of AutoZone. “One of the most effective ways to achieve those goals is to support and cultivate educational opportunities for future automotive professionals. This scholarship gives us the opportunity to make a profound and positive impact on the future of the automotive industry.”

Competitors in the Automotive Service Technology even showcased their skills in 11 different tests, based on tasks outlined by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF). The 11 test areas covered on-vehicle, simulator board and bench component testing, culminating in a comprehensive written exam.

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