Skills USA Auto Skills Competition Held on Bethlehem Campus

On March 12, Northampton Community College (NCC) Automotive Department hosted the 2025 Skills USA Auto Skills Competition in the auto lab on Bethlehem campus for high school technical students in the region. This is the hands-on portion of our contest where 85 students from nine schools competed last November in a written qualifier to earn one of the six two-person team positions for this event. These top qualifiers from area CTE (Career Technical Institutes) were focused on identifying concerns, finding the cause and performing the corrective action while showing their skills and having fun using diagnostic strategy. 

The student teams who competed were: 

Berks Career and Technology Center - Jacob Fost & Ryan Blankenbiller 

Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School - George Lookenbill & Spencer Parker 

Carbon Career and Technology Institute - Nicholas Bochiacchio & Bruce McFarland 

Middle Bucks Institute of Technology - George Robles & Shepherd Thrope 

Wallenpaupack Area High School - Joshua Albert & Jacob Gardner 

Warren County Technical School - Logan Jorgensen & Zachary Levine 

The six finalist teams of two competed 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, state inspection, fault code diagnosis, electrical measurement and testing (proper knowledge and use of a Multimeter), and engine challenges. 

Program Manager, Automotive Technology at NCC, Joseph Spadafora, says, “It is important for these aspiring technician trainees to have an opportunity to compete, show their skills and learn and have fun.”

All teams received gifts and tools from partners like Dorman Products, ASE education Foundation, Mac Tools, Milwaukee tools, Matco Tools, Advance Auto, Chevrolet, as well as NCC swag. The first-place students, George Lookenbill & Spencer Parker from Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School , were awarded $2,000 NCC scholarships. Additionally, they will receive a 2013 C6 Corvette Convertible vehicle donation for their school.   

The second and third place teams were: 

2nd - George Robles & Shepherd Thrope from Middle Bucks Institute of Technology  

3rd - Wallenpaupack Area High School - Joshua Albert & Jacob Gardner 

Additionally, three awards went to the top three students from the written contest. 

3rd place score – Logan Jorgensen from Warren County Technical School 

2nd place score – George Robles from Middle Bucks Institute of Technology 

1st place score - Jacob Fost from Berks Career and Technology Center 

“This generation will see fabulous advancements beyond their dreams as technology continually changes and improves. We have come from the Model T to Hydrogen fuel cells and EV that self-drive and are basically computers on wheels. Trades have and will continue to support and drive the economy and keep America moving!” says Spadafora.  

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