Schools / Education news : Automotive Team 4th in National Event

Two San Clemente High School students finished fourth in the nation at the Greater New York Auto Dealers Assn.’s Automotive Technology Competition.

The Auto Troubleshooting team of seniors Mike Downs and Brian Schroepfer competed against 22 high school teams at the national finals.

To reach the finals, the San Clemente team qualified by finishing first at the International Auto Show competition in Anaheim last November.

With the fourth-place finish, Downs and Schroepfer each collected more than $20,000 in scholarships, prizes, plaques, uniforms, tools and certificates.

In addition, more than $500 in tools and equipment were awarded to the San Clemente High auto shop for the team’s achievements, and shop instructor Robert McCarroll was recognized as Automotive Teacher of the Year by Valvoline Motor Oil Corp.