6 Schreiber Seniors Compete in Automotive Technology Competition

Six seniors successfully competed in the Long Island Regional Division of the National Automotive Technology Competition on Jan. 12. Now, they're gearing up for the New York High School Automotive Competition on Feb. 14, when they will take on 11 other teams from New York City, Westchester and Long Island. 

The students – John D'Alessandro, Paul Hyman, Peter Levinson, Matthew McAuliffe, Greg Martinek and Adam Vane – prepared intensely for the Jan. 12 competition. Team Schreiber’s efforts paid off and beat all but four teams. According to the immediate benefits have been offers of scholarships and expense-paid visitations to automotive technical schools, plus a constant stream of offers from these schools to visit Schreiber.

Hundreds of students across the United States and Canada enter the National Automotive Technology Competition, according to the organization. This year students and schools will compete for more than $3 million in prizes and scholarships, thanks to industry support. 

The competition was developed in 1990 to help curb the immense shortage of qualified automotive technicians in the United States, especially in the metropolitan areas.  This year the competition consisted of two one-and-one-half hour portions. The first was a series of hands-on problem-solving exercises based on eight major automotive systems. The second was another hand-on, practical examination where students used engine analyzers and software libraries to diagnose automobile body and engine concerns, including a comprehensive automotive safety check.

The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association Center for Automotive Education & Training, in Whitestone, Queens, will host the the Feb. 14 competition. It was also the site of the Jan. 12 contest.  

The winning team will represent the GNYADA at the National Competition and Championship, which will be held during the New York International Auto Show April 10t-11 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.

Schreiber’s automotive program currently offers three levels of automotive technology, and aims to offer a college-level program in the near future.  

Meanwhile, the students look forward to the New York finals.