2020 FutureTechs Rock Grand Prize winner announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TechForce Announces 2020 FutureTechs Rock
Grand Prize Winner – Griffin Howland

Nine transportation technician students recognized for outstanding
contributions as role models at school and in their communities.

April 14, 2020 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ — TechForce Foundation announces the 2020 FutureTechs Rock Awards Grand Prize Winner is Griffin Howland, a senior in high school attending Pickens County Career and Technology College, in Liberty, SC. As a nonprofit dedicated to helping student techs achieve their professional dreams, TechForce created this prestigious award to honor our student community and recognize those who have a promising future and will shape the transportation industry. To learn more about the 2020 FutureTechs Rock Awards, please visit: www.TechForce.org/FutureTechsRock.

Griffin’s nominator stated, “Griffin is extremely motivated to be the best at every task that is put in front of him. Griffin also has great soft skills and character traits that allow him to remain calm and focused even during adversity. I truly believe that it is the sum total of these skills and traits that will propel him into a bright future. He is already proficient in SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, and FCAW welding processes with multiple materials, as well as OSHA 10 Certified. His drive and motivation is unmatched and is evidenced by his commitment to school even when school has been cancelled. Griffin is constantly trying to polish his skills outside of the classroom through various welding projects.”

Griffin’s achievements include representing his school’s welding program at the state SkillsUSA welding competition, finishing 4th out of 260 at the Tulsa Welding Competition in Jacksonville, FL, exemplary attendance (he even attends optional trainings on his days off) and being named his school’s Welding Student of the Year in 2019. Griffin is also an active leader in the school’s marching band, and a member of the All-Region Band and Beta Club.

According to Griffin, “I enjoy accomplishing something that I can see the real world implications of. It’s not like a math problem where the solution is all in your head or on paper. I enjoy welding as more than just work.”

During the People’s Choice voting period (April 6-10), TechForce followers cast thousands of votes among 9 national finalists who were selected from more than 125 nominees by a panel of expert judges. This year’s nominees represented approximately 57 unique schools (30 unique post-secondary programs, 27 high schools).

Griffin secured the largest number of votes and has been named the Grand Prize Winner, earning his choice of a $1,000 TechForce Foundation tuition scholarship, or prizes from TechForce sponsors including specialty tools from AutoZone, an online Haynes Manual and an iPad Air from Ford Motor Company.

Upon learning he won the national award, Griffin exclaimed, “This is great! This scholarship will help with the cost of school. I’m looking forward to tech school and learning underwater welding.”

The 2020 finalists each represented a distinct technical education discipline. The Awards Finalists included:

  • Automotive – Meng Yang, Long Beach City College.
  • Aviation – Damen Martin, Upper Bucks County Technical School.
  • Collision Repair – Samantha Welch, GST BOCES Cooper Campus.
  • Diesel Off-Road – Danny Gonzalez, Salina Area Technical College.
  • Diesel On-Road – Christian Hill, University of Northwestern Ohio.
  • Motorcycle & ATV – Nicholas DiBartolo, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute.
  • Motorsports – Franklin Forman, University of Northwester Ohio.
  • Restoration – Kassidy Nixon, Central Carolina Community College.

The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s workforce development initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. The initiative is sponsored by industry partners, including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, CarMax, FedEx Freight, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz USA, Nissan North America, Penske Truck Leasing, Shell Pennzoil, Snap-on, Toyota USA Foundation, Universal Technical Institute and WD-40.

About TechForce Foundation

TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors. Also, it spearheads an industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. Learn more at www.techforce.org   Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Photos of Griffin: https://adobe.ly/2RSQzo3

Media Contact

Mike Pressendo, mpressendo@techforce.og, 602-363-8861

 

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Spark News | April 2020

 Topics in Spark News for April 2020:

FutureTechs Rock Awards | Motorius – Phoenix Art Museum | Recipient of the Sunstate Equipment Diesel Scholarship | Automotive Technician vs. Mechanic | Arkansas Trucking Association’s Carl Tapp Memorial Technician Scholarship

Vote now for the FutureTechs Rock Grand Prize Winner

2020_FTR Awards_Countdown_3 Days_2020-04-10_1x1-1
We’re excited to announce our judges’ picks for finalists in the 2020 TechForce Foundation FutureTech Rock Awards!
Now it’s your turn to have a say in which of these outstanding transportation tech students will be named the 2020 Grand Prize Winner. Voting closes Friday, April 10, 2020, at 7 PM EDT/ 4 PM PDT. 
Meet the finalists & vote>>

Staying home? Tour a museum!

2020-04_porsche_museum_2019_porsche_ag-1Auto museums around the world are making social distancing a little more bearable with virtual tours you can enjoy from wherever you find yourself these days. Our friends at Motorius have compiled a list of the best of these tours. Check out Motorious’s list here>>

As a bonus, our friends at the Phoenix Art Museum have also created a virtual tour of their Legends of Speed exhibit featuring famous racecars from the past 100 years! Check out Legends of Speed here>>

 
TechForce blog highlight: Automotive Technician vs. Mechanic: What’s the Difference?

2020-04_Automotive Technician vs Mechanic_Whats the DifferenceDo you subscribe to the TechForce blog? Check out this illuminating highlight from our latest article:

“We hear the question often: What’s the difference between an auto technician and auto mechanic?

Unfortunately, each title brings a different image to mind, but they’re still used interchangeably. Technicians are all about critical thinking, focus, attention to detail and using deductive reasoning to “put the pieces together” in a strategic approach to their work. Whereas mechanics…” read the full blog post here>>

Resource Spotlight

 Electude logo. The word Electude in all caps. The initial letter is red, the rest are black.

Free Online Training

Electude and CCAR have partnered to offer free access to online automotive and CCAR eSafety training through August 1, 2020 in response to COVID-19.

Get started here>>

Scholarship recipient highlight: TCAT student Ireland

2020-03_Ireland_Sunstate Recipient and TCAT studentIreland is the recipient of the Sunstate Equipment Diesel Scholarship! For Ireland, “Fixing things has always been a passion mine… My dream career would be working for myself on diesel powered trucks and equipment.” Being the only woman among a classroom full of men motivates her to work even harder to achieve her dream of owning her own shop. Keep up the great work, Ireland! Learn more and apply for TechForce Foundation scholarships here>>

Scholarships you can apply for today

2020-04_Logo_Arkansas Trucking Association_low res_001The deadline to apply for Arkansas Trucking Association’s Carl Tapp Memorial Technician Scholarship has been extended an extra month! Applications are now due April 30, 2020. Learn more about the scholarship, including eligibility criteria, and apply on Arkansas Trucking Association’s website>>

 

TF_Primary_Registered_FullColorTechForce Foundation continues to operate at 100% to support students with scholarships and grants. If you need support to pursue your technical education in this critical time apply on our website here>>

 

For more news on the TechForce Foundation, follow us on Social Media at the links below!

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Were you forwarded this newsletter? Click here to subscribe to FutureTech Spark News for monthly events, scholarships and after-school opportunities to help future techs explore and pursue the professional technician career path.

2020 FutureTechs Rock public vote now open

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TechForce Foundation Announces 2020 Finalists and Opens Public Grand Prize Vote

NINE TRANSPORTATION TECHNICIAN STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING
CONTRIBUTIONS AS ROLE MODELS AT SCHOOL AND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES

April 7, 2020 – SCOTTSDALE, AZ — TechForce Foundation announces the finalists for the 2020 FutureTechs Rock Awards and opens the Grand Prize public vote. As a nonprofit dedicated to helping student techs achieve their professional dreams, TechForce created this prestigious award to honor our student community and recognize those who have a promising future and will shape the transportation industry. Meet the finalists and vote for the Grand Prize Winner at: TechForce.org/Vote. Voting is open through 4PM PDT, April 10, 2020.

Finalists were selected from eligible nominations by industry expert judges. Each will receive an AutoZone gift card, Duralast tool set, online subscription to Haynes Manuals, Ford Professional tools and ASE study guides from Cengage Learning. One finalist will be chosen as Grand Prize Winner by public vote and will receive additional prizes including $1,000 TechForce Scholarship and an iPad Air from Ford Motor Company.

The 2020 finalists each represent a distinct technical education discipline. The Awards finalists include:

  • Automotive – Meng Yang, Long Beach City College. Meng was raised in foster care, and now mentors students entering college from both the foster care and criminal justice systems. He is pursuing a dual major and has earned academic accolades including recognition from his school’s Board of Trustees.
  • Aviation – Damen Martin, Upper Bucks County Technical School. Flying and working on planes are Damen’s main passions. He is driven to learn everything he can about engines, even once going so far as to buy an engine block from a scrap yard just to take it apart and put it back together again.
  • Collision Repair – Samantha Welch, GST BOCES Cooper Campus. Samantha was recently selected as the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s student of the year. She is a member of the National Technical Honor Society and volunteers with her campus’s student government. She also won first place overall in a recent regional SkillsUSA competition, and placed in the National Competition.
  • Diesel Off-Road – Danny Gonzalez, Salina Area Technical College. Danny’s nomination praised his determination and resilience. Danny was once faced with rebuilding an international, out of production tractor engine. With no manual to go off of, he contacted shops across the country to source the right parts and accomplish what many considered a near impossible task.
  • Diesel On-Road – Christian Hill, University of Northwestern Ohio. Christian earned a Class A CDL at age 19 so he could better serve the customers in the shop where he works. He has used the CDL to test his work, pick up customer equipment, and even haul loads get a better idea of what truck drivers experience. He is now helping his team, many of them older than Christian, earn CDLs of their own.
  • Motorcycle & ATV – Nicholas DiBartolo, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. Nicholas has restored, repaired and revived a number of vehicles. He dreams of owning a mobile motorcycle repair business to bring his skills and passion to others.
  • Motorsports – Franklin Forman, University of Northwester Ohio. Franklin earned an Associate’s Degree with honors in Automotive and High Performance Technology, and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s in Automotive Technology Supervision. Franklin took first place in his Local, Regional and State SkillsUSA competitions, and placed third at the National Competition.
  • Restoration – Kassidy Nixon, Central Carolina Community College. Kassidy is a straight-A student who will earn both her high school and Automotive Restoration diploma later this year. She plans to turn her passion for restoration into a career as a technician, with a goal to ultimately own her own custom shop to share her passion for classic vehicles to the next generation.
  • Welding & CNC – Griffin Howland, Pickens County Career and Technology College. As a senior in high school Griffin is proficient in SMAW, GTAW, GMAW, and FCAW welding processes with multiple materials, as well as OSHA 10 Certified. His drive and motivation is unmatched and is evidenced by his constantly trying to polish his skills outside of the classroom through various welding projects.

The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s workforce development initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. The initiative is sponsored by industry partners, including Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, CarMax, FedEx Freight, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz USA, Nissan North America, Penske Truck Leasing, Shell Pennzoil, Snap-on, Toyota USA Foundation, Universal Technical Institute and WD-40.

About TechForce Foundation
TechForce Foundation is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) with the mission to champion students to and through their technical education and into careers as professional transportation technicians. The Foundation distributes more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants annually, thanks to its generous corporate sponsors and donors, and spearheads an industry-wide initiative to help encourage and support more young people to pursue the vehicle technician profession. Learn more at www.techforce.org

Media Contact
Mike Pressendo, mpressendo@techforce.og, 602-363-8861

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"By connecting students, instructors, industry pros and working techs, the TechForce Foundation provides unilateral support to the transportation industry’s technician recruiting needs… The administration of our Scholarships by the TechForce team has been instrumental in delivering us with a successful method to gain interest from qualified candidates as well as provide our students with additional assistance to complete their education."
Tony Farr
Ford Technical Programs Manager