The announcement began with the tenth place finishers at the awards banquet for the 2004 National Automotive Technology Competition on April 14 at the New York [City] Hilton. The climax would be the reading of the names of the number-one team. After solving all but one problem in the final, hands-on competition, Capital Region Career & Technical School seniors Matthew Bushnell and Todd Clark and their AYES Automotive Technician program Instructor Rich Bellizzi were hopeful they would place in the top 10. 

As the countdown hit third and then second place, their optimism vanished. Bushnell and Clark had faced stiff competition from 35 teams of North America’s best automotive high school students. They not only had to diagnose and repair a bugged car in a high pressure, timed contest; they had to master numerous work station and written tests.

Suddenly, the emcee proclaimed Career & Tech’s Bushnell and Clark 2004 National Automotive Technology Competition champions. "I heard it but it didn’t click until people at our table told us ‘stand up, stand up, it’s you!’" related Bushnell, a full-day student in Career & Tech’s Alternative Education program.

"I just looked at Matt and didn’t know what to say," said Clark, who is also a senior at Schalmont High School. "I had never really won anything in my life, and here were 500 people at a banquet clapping and cheering for us."

Bushnell’s and Clark’s victory was well earned. They qualified for the Nationals after training at Albany Dodge and winning the Regional Auto Tech Competition held at Hudson Valley Community College in January. The event was sponsored by the Eastern New York Coalition of Automotive Retailers (ENYCAR), who along with Time Warner Cable Capital News9, Albany Dodge and Orange Motors, sponsored the students’ trip to the national competition.

Every evening from February through April, after school and then work as AYES interns at Albany Dodge, Bushnell and Clark would meet up with Mr. Bellizzi at Orange Motors in Albany. There they learned all they could about the 2004 Mazda 6, the vehicle determined by a drawing to be the one they would de-bug at the Nationals. Orange Motors Mazda Master Technicians Dan Rockefeller and Bill Becker were their coaches.

"Todd and Matt arrived here every night ready to work and very eager to learn," said Becker. "They did a great job at the competition, under pressure and all by themselves."

Clark and Bushnell won more than $300,000 in awards and prizes, many of which also benefit Career & Tech’s automotive programs, at the 2004 National Automotive Technology Competition, which was held in conjunction with the New York International Auto Show. The new North American champions were awarded full college scholarships; tools, equipment and manufacturer gifts; medals and trophies; and a 2004 Toyota Camry for their AYES classroom. In two years, each student will receive his own, new Pontiac Vibe upon completing college.

Clark had already been accepted into the NASCAR Technician program at Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Mooresville, NC. A full scholarship valued at more than $24,000 will now pay for his pursuit of an associate’s degree and ASE Master Automotive Technician certification. Clark’s career goal is to build, maintain and drive NASCAR race cars.

Winning more than a half-dozen full college scholarships presented Bushnell with lots of higher educational opportunities. Before the Nationals, finances dictated enrollment at a college within commuting distance of his Niskayuna home. Bushnell is now visiting college programs near and far to see which is the best fit for his future goals, which include owning a speed shop and teaching automotive technology.

Perhaps he was inspired to become an educator by his instructors at Career & Tech. "In AYES and Alt. Ed.," Bushnell said, "you can do awesome because the teachers want you to learn and do well, and they take time to work with you."

"The teachers at Career & Tech have been very good to me," Clark added. "I learn best hands-on, and I really enjoy coming here for part of my school day."

The AYES Automotive Technician program is a nationally certified course of study supported by major U.S. automotive manufacturers. In addition to paid internships at local dealerships, AYES students earn college credit and tool scholarships. The Capital Region BOCES offers one of just seven AYES programs in New York State.

[April 2004]

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