Automotive Technology instructors Jeff Cantrel and Dan Mirza chaperoned a group of students chosen to compete at the Jan. 11 Universal Technical Institute for competition. Universal Technical Institute, Inc., is a nationwide provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. They offer specialized technical education programs under the banner of the well-known brands Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI), Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). They work with some of the most respected brands in the transportation industry, including BMW, Mercedes Benz, Harley-Davidson, Ford, Toyota, and Peterbilt, to name a few. In all, the students have the opportunity to work with over 30 industry-leading brands.

The competition consisted of a written portion and the top 20 teams from the written portion advanced to the hands on portion. Forty teams total from Pennsylvania and New Jersey participated in the competition. Three of the four teams from BAVTS made it to the hands-on portion and one team placed fifth out of 40 teams and in doing so won substantial scholarships to UTI.

Seniors Luke King from Saucon Valley HS and Natiana Stoneback from Liberty HS each won 25 percent tuition paid ($10-12k value) scholarships. Both students plan to attend UTI upon graduation. Team 2 members qualified for hands-on were Jose Roman Mendez, FR-12 and Andre Banegas Lopez, FR-12. Team 3 also qualified for hands on and included: Ian Jeffries, FR-12 and Zachary Moore, FR-11 . Lastly, Team 4, passed the test but didn’t qualify for the hands on included: Joel Valencia, NO-12 and Isiah Quinones, LI-12.

It’s that time of year again where students begin preparations for the annual SkillsUSA District 11 Championships. The District 11 Championships are by far the community’s largest annual event. This year, the main 33 competitions, titled the “Showcase of Skills,” will be held at Agri-Plex at the Allentown Fairgrounds on Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. In addition to the “Showcase of Skills,” 22 competitions will be held at the Lehigh Valley Hotel and other various locations throughout the Lehigh Valley. Four-hundred plus selected District 11 students of all trades, 81 of them attending BAVTS, will compete in 55 different competitions that will require them to not only put their head knowledge to the test, but demonstrate their skills at some of the highest levels. For students competing for the first time, this event will present them with their first opportunities to work alongside the industry and business leaders that will be judging the final products of the competition. Because the competitors will be performing in front of a live audience, they will be forced to maintain concentration and focus as well as handle the pressure. Last year, BAVTS had 12 students that took first place in the district competitions and went on to compete at the state level. District 11 competition prepares students to compete against other exceptional students at higher levels until they reach the top. Overall, the experience gained and lessons learned by the competitors are ones they will never forget.

Competitors for districts are as follows.

Freedom HS

First Aid/CPR-Mya Basset-11, Crime Scene Investigation Team-Harkiran Bhullar-12, Prepared Speech-Izabella Bock-11, Nail Care-Kirsten Boyle-11, Criminal Justice-Brandon Cordeo-12, Medical Terminology-Janiah Falwell-12, Job Skill Demo A-Avery Forni-11, Health Knowledge Bowl Team-Sebastian Lebron-11, Web Design Team-David Mattia-12, Electrical Construction Wiring-Michael Mattia-12, Esthetics Stephanie Medina-12, Nail Care Model-Gina Mescina-12, Health Knowledge Bowl Team-Mia Moya-12, Restaurant Service-Emma Ortiz-Torress-11, Extemporaneous Speaking-Jazmine Rodriguez-10, First Aid/CPR-Lisandra Santiago-Guzman-12, Job Interview-Adam Serra-10, Nail Care Model-Brook Speshok-12, Customer Service Tanaysha Torres-11, Automated Manufacturing Tech. Team-Ryan Toth-10, Industrial Motor Control-Mark Wuerstle-11.

Liberty HS

Extemporaneous Speaking-Jarel Acosta-Gonzalez-11, Team Works-Tyler Arnold-12, Culinary Arts-Hannah Benedek-12, Nurse Assisting-Mersadies Bonilla-12, Nurse Assisting-Isis Calle-12, Esthetics Model-Jaiia Caraballo-11, Cosmetology-Cayetana Carrillo-11, Job Skill Demo Open-Nayeli Castillo-12, Helper-Liam Chavez-12, Advertising Design-Lizeth Dutan-11, Automated Manufacturing Tech. Team-Cooper Einsla-10, Basic Healthcare kills-Yamilet Ferrufino-12, Medical Math-Kristan Fleary-12, Health Knowledge Bowl Team-Keily Gaetan-11, Health Knowledge Bowl Team-Jenna Grochowski-12, Related Technical Math-Kyle Jimenez-12, Esthetics-Taneyah Jordan, 12, Prepared Speech-Isabel Lucas-12, Nurse Assisting-SilMarie Matos-11, Team Works-Huer McGrory-12, Team Works-Jeremy Meyers-12, Customer Service-Michael-11, Automotive Service Tech-Isiah Quinones-12, Culinary Arts-Cody Rehrig-12, Medical Terminology-Nya Rivera-Sanders-12, Graphic Communication-Sumayyah Salahuddin-12, Nail Care Model-Jasmine Sosa-11, Esthetics-Madison Stefanik-11, Helper Natiana Stoneback-12, Esthetics Model-Destiney Velazquez-11.

Northampton HS

Web Design Team-Reece Anderson-10, Team Works-Brandon Balliet-12, Crime Scene Investigation Team-Cheyenne Bicking-11, Automobile Maintenance and Light Repair-Gavin Heffelfinger-10, Nail Care-Mercedes Kasper-12, HVAC and Refrigeration-Mike Kuzio-12, Cosmetology-Martina Mannino-11, Crime Scene Investigation Team-Thomas Martinez-12, Restaurant Service-Samantha Matthews-12, Helper-Marc Rivera-12, Helper-Marc Rivera-12, Fire Fighting Demonstration-Trevor Rubino-10, Automated Manufacturing TechTeam- Zach Siekonic-12, Collision Repair Technology-Robert Smith-12, Helper-Cyrus Smith-11, Automotive Service Tech.-Joel Valencia-12.

Saucon Valley HS

Building Construction-Alexander Bortz-11, Related Technical Math-Eric Brown-11, Precision Machine-Jake Bruchak-12, Welding-Justine Fegley-12, Fire Fighting Demonstration-Christopher Frey-12, Nail Care-Olivia Kacerik-12, Cosmetology-Caylin Markle-12, Web Design Team- Gabi Miller-10, Culinary Arts-Vito Randazzo-12, Electronics Technology-Brady Rowe-12, Esthetics model-Shelbie Salvaggio-12, Plumbing-Anthony Zambrana-12.