CTE Auto Technology students take top awards at regional competition

Two teams of students from Orange-Ulster BOCES Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transportation Academy took top awards 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 from Middletown High School and Mahmoud Elgallad from Monroe-Woodbury High School came in second place.

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

The hands-on automotive competition for high school seniors included competitors from the lower Hudson Valley and New York City. The teams were challenged on various automotive workstations. The talented students won scholarships to auto technology schools as well as an assortment of prizes.

They will advance to the New York State GNYADA Competition later this month.

Local car dealerships provide practice vehicles

To prepare for the competitions, the teams have been practicing at local automobile dealerships. The second place team has been at Healey Chevrolet Buick practicing on a 2020 Chevy Malibu while the third place team has been at Johnstons Toyota practicing on a 2019 Toyota Camry.

“It takes tremendous effort and determination to win these competitions," CTE Principal Eugene Hewitt said. "The students, along with their instructors, have put in countless hours of preparation. We are truly thankful to Healey Chevrolet Buick and Johnston’s Toyota for making it possible for our students to participate.”

Essentials

Orange-Ulster BOCES Career and Technical Education programs give students the opportunity to graduate from high school with technical experience, professional skills, national industry certifications, and college credit in a wide variety of high-demand occupations. The Career and Technical Education Division has programs located on two campuses in Goshen, one on Gibson Road and the other at the Regional Education Center at Arden Hill.

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