Students from Alpena High School Win Ford/AAA Auto Skills Michigan Finals

DEARBORN, Mich., April 30 -- Two Alpena High School students took first place in the 10th annual Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Quality Care Challenge today (April 30) at Macomb Community College in Warren.

John J. Milligan of Alpena and Louis K. Konieczny of Presque Isle, successfully fixed their deliberately "bugged" 2003 Mercury Mountaineer to beat out nine other student auto technician teams from across the state.

Second place went to Michael K. Horst and Brad J. Cottage, who attend Pinckney High School in Pinckney. Third place was won by Jason M. Beneteau, from Shelby Township, and Joa A. Penzien from Macomb, both students at Eisenhower High School.

First place in the written portion of the state test went to Kent Career Tech Center of Grand Rapids.

Winner of the Ultimate Master Technician Challenge, the second annual event for professional technicians, is John Kennedy of Mark Moats Ford in Defiance, Ohio.

Second place went to Joseph McCarthy of Findlay, Ohio and Nicholas Kimmell from Wharton, Ohio, who work at Findlay Ford Lincoln-Mercury. Third place was won by Mitchell Strong from Tony Betten & Sons Ford in Grand Rapids.

The winning students will represent Michigan in the national finals June 24 in Washington, D.C. John Kennedy will represent the region in the professional portion of the national contest.

Each participant qualified for the state final by placing among the highest team scores in a written test of judgment and knowledge of mechanics and electronics during regional testing in February. They are eligible for scholarships to schools throughout the Midwest.

AAA and Ford have teamed to co-sponsor the contest to recognize the talents of these young professionals. Nationwide, approximately 6,000 students are expected to compete in this year's Student Auto Skills contest for $6 million in scholarships and prizes.