Four of Oxford High School’s talented automotive students once again proved their knowledge and skills at a state competition and as a result, brought home a variety of awards and scholarship offers.
‘All in all, the guys did a nice job,? said Auto Instructor Dan Balsley. ‘I was really impressed.?
Juniors Chad Simmers and James McCormick, along with sophomores Louie Urban and Anson Rowley, earned a combined 13 awards at the Michigan Industrial & Technology Education Society’s (MITES) annual automotive competition held May 9 at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.
Twenty-nine high schools and career centers sent 54 students to participate in the basic maintenance service portion of the competition and 43 students to compete in the advanced service technology portion.
Simmers finished third overall in the advanced competition. He also took fourth place in engine repair, fifth place in the written exam, second place in electrical, fourth in suspension, eighth in math, sixth in brakes and first place in general auto knowledge.
‘They kept calling Chad up over and over. It just wouldn’t stop,? Balsley said. ‘It was really nice to see him do so well and be so successful.?
Simmers? impressive showing at the competition earned him a $22,500 scholarship offer from Ohio Technical College, a $7,000 offer from the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), $6,000 from the Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology (MIAT) College of Technology and $4,000 from the Lincoln College of Technology.
McCormick won multiple awards as well, earning eighth place in brakes, sixth in engine repair and third in suspension.
For his efforts, he received a $7,000 scholarship offer from UNOH, $2,500 from Ohio Technical College and $1,000 each from MIAT and the Lincoln College of Technology.
Both Simmers and McCormick plan to attend UNOH so they can one day be technicians who work on diesel and heavy agricultural equipment such as combines, crop sprayers, balers, threshers and harrows.
Both have experience working on local family farms. Simmers? grandfather farms hay, while McCormick’s dad farms cattle and other animals.
The pair spent many extra hours studying and practicing for the MITES competition.
‘We stayed after school for like two or three weeks preparing,? McCormick said.
They’re grateful to Balsley for his guidance and encouragement. ‘He helped a lot to get us prepared for this,? Simmers said.
Rounding out Oxford’s winning team was Urban, who took seventh place overall in the basic portion, and Rowley, who earned ninth place in fastener identification.
Founded in 1928, MITES supports both teachers and students in the areas of industrial, career and technical education. The nonprofit consists of more than 600 members and volunteers who believe in the power of hands-on, relevant, real-world learning.