Eau Gallie High Wins Universal Technical Institute’s Top Tech Challenge Competition

Eau Gallie's Emmanuel Salazar, Michael Fournier take first place honors

Universal Technical Institute in Orlando held its annual Top Tech Challenge Competition for high school automotive students and Eau Gallie High School students Emmanuel Salazar and Michael Fournier, Jr. took first place honors.

The statewide competition, which was held in late April, consisted of two parts. First, the students took a written exam, and second, a hands-on component that tested the student’s knowledge of mechanical skills. The total of the two scores then determined the outcome.

Brevard Public Schools’ Automotive Maintenance and Light Repair program at Eau Gallie High School took first place, Rockledge High School took fourth place, Satellite High School took fifth place, the Eau Gallie High School second team took eighth place and Titusville High School took ninth place.

For winning first place, Eau Gallie High School won a $3,000 Snap-On toolbox for the Eau Gallie High School Lab and the students each received a $10,000 scholarship to the Universal Technical Institute.

Salazar has earned 10 ASE Entry-Level Certifications, Florida Auto Dealers Association Certification, and the ASE G1 for Automotive and Light Truck as well as the Aerospace/Aircraft Assembly certification.

Fournier has earned 10 ASE Entry-Level Certifications and the ASE 6 Electrical and Electronics Certification. He is the only high school student in Brevard County that has passed the ASE 6 certification. Each student was awarded a $10,000 scholarship to Universal Technical Institute and a Snap-On toolbox for the automotive program.

Lance Basa and Michael Guzzardo placed eighth in the competition and each earned nine ASE Entry-Level Certifications.

The instructors and students included:

■ EGHS Team 1: Phil Younger, Emmanuel Salazar and Michael Fournier
■ EGHS Team 2: Lance Basa and Michael Guzzardo
■ RHS: Ed Sebetka, Andrew Hill and Max Sackenheim
■ SHS: Randy Pitts, Jason White and Bryson Welker
■ THS: Eric McBenton, Wyatt Hickey and Jonathan Farmer

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