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Founded 05-05-05

Watauga High’s Auto Tech Students Win Awards at Recent Competitions

Story by David Brewer

Recently, High Country Press reported on a number of students excelling in Watauga High School’s award-winning welding program. It turns out that the welding students aren’t the only ones getting their hands dirty, winning awards and gaining valuable skills in a hands-on setting.

Spearheaded for the last 10 years by head instructor Larry Jones, the WHS auto tech program recently sent students to the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association competition and the Skills USA competition, and the students brought home awards from each. The students, including sophomores, juniors and seniors, earned thousands of dollars in scholarship money, as well as new tools.

In years past, the WHS auto tech program has won six state championships and has placed 10th and 11th in national competitions.

From teaching fewer than 50 students when first arriving at WHS in the late 1990s, Jones’ auto tech program is now bursting at the seams with approximately 120 students. Recently, the school hired former NASCAR fabricator Jim Lusk as an additional instructor for the program.

“We don’t usually have room for all the students that enroll,” said Jones. “We don’t have as much space as we need.”

One aspect of the program that has changed since Jones’ first year is the enrollment of female students. Six female students are currently studying in the WHS auto tech program, and Jones said that females are extremely likely to get hired, especially by dealerships, that have largely female customer bases.

Certified by the National Automobile Technical Education Foundation (NATEF) and the Automotive Youth Education System (AYES), the program focuses on four areas—brakes, electronics, steering and suspension, and engine performance—the basic skills that employers look for in potential mechanics.

All students enrolled in the program receive both high school and college credit through Caldwell Community College and are eligible for college-level under-car and engine performance certificates.

“That shortens the amount of time and money they have to spend to receive an associate’s degree,” said Jones.

According to Jones, an advisory committee of businesspeople and educational personnel has helped the program achieve its continuing level of success.

“It takes a lot of people to make this type of program successful,” said Jones. “You have to have support from the businesses, parents and administration, all working together.”

Jones said that many graduates of the WHS auto tech program are currently employed at local dealerships while others are receiving further technical training in programs including five students at the NASCAR Technical Institute.

Several Watauga High students have recently joined the school’s award-winning auto tech tradition, winning tools and scholarship money while bringing home prizes in recent competitions.

NCADA Competition, 2nd Place

Kyle Trivett

Creston Triplett

Skills USA Competition

Auto Service Tech. 1

First Place-Daniel Miller

Second Place-C.K. Goldenfields

Fifth Place-Jessica Lawrence

Auto Service Tech. 2

Third Place-Kyle Triplett

Power Equipment

Fifth Place-Thomas Bolick

Diesel

Third Place-Dusty Hartsoe

Fourth Place-Nathan Hodges