2024 Auto Skills Competition

On March 6, Northampton Community College (NCC) Automotive Department hosted the 2024 Skills USA Auto Skills Competition in the auto lab on Bethlehem campus for high school technical students in the region.  

“NCC hosts our annul automotive competition to promote the industry, college, and the opportunities and career that our programs offer to the next generation of technicians. It is important to challenge the students and provide and outlet for them to show what they have learned while also growing through competition and building community.,” said Joseph S Spadafora Jr., automotive program manager NCC, when asked about the college’s participation in events like this.  

Spadafora says that there is a severe shortage of technicians in the automotive industry, and transportation is incredibly important to the global economy. He feels it’s his job to promote and encourage more people to enter this trade.  

Student teams competed from Wallenpaupack High School, Berks Career & Technology Center East, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School, Tunkhannock Area High School, and Warren County Technical School. 

Six finalist teams of two who achieved their place through a written exam last fall competed in the hands-on event to vie for a 1st, 2nd or 3rd place trophy and prizes. Each team had 20 minutes to complete each of six stations. Students were judged on brake testing, electrical training, engine diagnosis, car start issues, PA state inspection, and mechanically timing working parts in a four-cylinder DOHC engine. 

All teams received NCC automotive technology shirts and swag from Matco, Mac Tools, Dorman Products, Advanced Auto, Wind Gap Chevy, and the ASE education foundation. The first-place students, Austin Earl and Lukas McConnell of Wallenpaupack Area High School, and they were awarded $2,000 NCC scholarships. Additionally, Wallenpaupack will receive a vehicle donation.   

The second and third place teams were: 

2nd - Caleb Goch and Aidan Malone from Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School 
3rd - Caiden Grabowski and Gage Rosengrant from Tunkhannock Area High School 

“Our auto competition has a focus on teamwork and the process of diagnosis to find and correct the concern that a customer is experiencing.  Building these critical thinking and process driven 

strategies will ultimately lead these future technicians to successful and rewarding careers in an industry that keeps the world moving. It is especially important now with the ever-growing shift to EV vehicles,” said Spadfora. 

The future is bright for this next generation of Automotive specialists. Learn more about the automotive program at NCC.