The TechForce Foundation announced that Jonathon Miranda, an automotive student at Ohio Technical College in Cleveland, Ohio, was named the 2019 FutureTechs Rock Awards grand-prize winner.
The nine finalists included:
Collision Repair
- Wyatt Mote, Wake Forest High School, Wake Forest, N.C.
- Riley Prince, Gateway Community College, Phoenix, Ariz.
Automotive
- Ryan Adkins, Collins Career Center, Chesapeake, Ohio
- Angelle Vanderwarf, Kankakee Area Career Center, Bourbonnais, Ill.
- Antonio Yepez Cervantes, Ventura College, Ventura, Calif.
Diesel
- Liam Thompson, Delgado Community College, New Orleans, La.
- Noah Salo, Joliet Public School, Joliet, Mont.
Welding and Machining
- Felyciti Alvarez, Fallbrook High School, Fallbrook, Calif.
Motorcycle
- Aaron Smith, Schuylkill Technology Center, Frackville, Pa.
Throughout grand-prize winner Jonathon Miranda’s 18-month automotive program, he has maintained perfect attendance, achieved honor roll six times and earned all A’s in his associate degree academic classes, which are separate from his technical coursework. He’s a member of his school’s Student Leadership Council, where he serves as a role model and mentor, welcomes new students to campus and volunteers for on-campus events. He also volunteers as a judge with Hot Rodders of Tomorrow at SEMA and as lead judge for the Piston Power Show’s high school engine building competition.
During the People’s Choice voting period the week of April 8, TechForce followers cast more than 25,000 votes among 10 national finalists who were selected among more than 160 nominees by a panel of judges to represent different segments of the technician profession. By securing the largest number of votes, Miranda earned his choice of a $1,000 TechForce Foundation tuition scholarship to apply towards his post-secondary technician education or a sponsored Snap-on tool voucher of equal value.
“This is awesome!” said Miranda. “Just being nominated means so much to me. Thank you to TechForce Foundation and everyone who voted. This experience encourages me to do my best, and it’s a great feeling to know that other people recognize my hard work.”
The FutureTech Rock Awards recognize and celebrate students’ commitment to and passion for the technician profession and the transportation industry. With the U.S. only graduating approximately 57,000 technician students each year among a workforce need of 120,000 new entrant techs per year, the technician shortage is real and emphasizes how valuable each one of these students is to our country’s transportation industry.
Students were nominated by instructors, school personnel, fellow students, youth program directors, and business and community leaders. Nominations were reviewed by a panel of volunteer judges including Julia Landauer, NASCAR driver; Tony Molla, ASA; Brandon Eckenrode, Collision Repair Education Foundation; Larry Cox, Sunstate Equipment; Ken Calhoun, Altec Service Group; and Frank Leutz, Desert Car Care of Chandler and Wrench Nation. The 10 national finalists each received a tool voucher sponsored by Snap-on, a gift certificate to Cengage’s online educational library sponsored by Cengage Learning, and a Haynes Online Manual sponsored by Haynes North America.
The FutureTechs Rock Awards are part of TechForce Foundation’s FutureTech Success initiative to help inspire and support tomorrow’s workforce of technicians. FutureTech Success is sponsored by industry partners including Advance Auto Parts; AutoZone; Bridgestone; CarMax; FedEx Freight; Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Interstate Batteries; Manheim; Mercedes-Benz USA; Nissan North America; Penske Truck Leasing; Shell Pennzoil; Snap-on; Universal Technical Institute; Valvoline; and WD-40.
“Our country relies on the mobility technician students of today who will keep America rolling tomorrow,” said Jennifer Maher, executive director, TechForce Foundation. “By engaging in a challenging STEM curriculum, these students are preparing themselves for an in-demand, high-tech and rewarding career. FutureTechs Rock Awards nominees are role models for their fellow students and an inspiration to us all.”
To learn more about the 2019 FutureTechs Rock Awards, visit www.TechForceFoundation.org/FutureTechsRock.
