CTE Auto Technology students win top prizes in regional competition

Two teams of students from the Orange-Ulster Academy of Transportation BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) won top prizes after competing in the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA) regional competition, which was held last month at the Center for Automotive Education and Training in Queens.

Ryan Rumsey of Middletown High School and Mahmoud Elgallad of Monroe-Woodbury High School took second place.

Ethan Ladka and Alexis Torres of Warwick Valley High School came in third place.

The hands-on motor competition for high school students included competitors from the Lower Hudson Valley and New York City. The teams were challenged on different automotive workstations. The talented students have won scholarships at automotive technology schools as well as an assortment of prizes.

They will take the New York State GNYADA competition later this month.

Local car dealerships provide training vehicles

To prepare for the competitions, the teams trained at local car dealerships. The second place team was at Healey Chevrolet Buick training on a 2020 Chevy Malibu while the third place team was at Johnstons Toyota training on a 2019 Toyota Camry.

“It takes a tremendous amount of effort and determination to win these competitions,” said Eugene Hewitt, CTE Director. “The students, along with their instructors, put in countless hours of preparation. We are truly grateful to Healey Chevrolet Buick and Johnston’s Toyota for allowing our students to participate.

Essential

Orange-Ulster BOCES vocational and technical education programs provide students with the opportunity to graduate from high school with technical experience, work skills, national industry certifications, and college credits in a wide variety occupations in high demand. The Vocational and Technical Education Division offers programs located at two campuses in Goshen, one on Gibson Road and the other at the Regional Education Center in Arden Hill.

For more information on OR BOCES Career and Technical Education programs, call 845-291-0300.