JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
The most skilled, up and coming auto technicians in the state went head to head in an annual competition at the Mississippi Trade Mart. The auto challenge known as the "Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition" means much more than just bragging rights.
Terry High School students Barry Johnson and Quintez Green are passionate about fixing cars. Tuesday morning, Johnson and Green's passion and skill allowed them to participate in the "Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition."
"We've been practicing and working pretty hard at this because we really want it," Green told WLBT News.
Ten brand new 2012 Ford Fusions were all bugged with identical malfunctions. Twenty students, in teams of two competed to see who could get the glitches out and start their vehicle the fastest.
"In some cases we've had only 50% of the cars be able to start and leave the block," said Don Redman, the AAA Spokesman for Mississippi.
The competition isn't just about getting the "bugs" out of cars. More importantly, it's about paving an easier road to pay for a higher education.
"Going to college without having to pay that's just a great honor," said Green.
Each of the students in the competition competed for $170,000 in college scholarship money and prizes.
Last year, Mississippi's universities increased tuition by nearly 10%. Price hikes like that make competitions like the "Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition," even more attractive to the up and coming auto techs.
"I know I want to deal with cars so this is my opportunity and it'll help my parents out a lot and they'll be really proud of me," said Terry High School Junior Berry Johnson.
The lure of winning scholarship money is certainly attractive. However, organizers also say, young people who pursue auto tech careers won't ever worry about a job.
"We have over 240 million vehicles on the road, so there's a big demand right now for these people with qualifications," said Redman.
The winning team will compete for more than $11 million in scholarship money at the national finals in Dearborn, Michigan in June.
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