WEST PALM BEACH, Fla, September 16, 2024 - Upper Valley Career Center’s (UVCC) Automotive Technology instructor, Andy Buehler has emerged victorious at the annual US Auto Tech Championships.
The nationwide competition, held in West Palm Beach, Fla., showcases the skills of auto technician professionals and students across the country. Participants compete in various challenges that test their skills in diagnostics, repair, and general automotive knowledge.
Buehler has been an instructor at UVCC for seven years and has competed in the US Auto Tech Championships for the last four.
“I started competing in 2021 and I made the top 16. In 2022, I got fourth place and last year I got third,” he shared.
This year, he left sunny Florida as the champion. “It has all been a whirlwind,” he said about taking home the win. “As an instructor, this proves to me that I still have the technical skills needed to be one of the best in the nation”.
This year, competitors had to replace inner and outer tire rods, rack and pinion bellows boot, brakes and rotors on the front axles and balance two tires. Competitors are judged on three main components: accuracy, speed and following directions. “All of this work was approximately four hours of billable work, but they gave us two hours to do it and I finished in an hour and a half,” Buehler explained.
His students could not be more proud, which was evident to him today as he was welcomed back to a round of applause from his seniors.
“We are extremely proud of Mr. Buehler and all of our dedicated career technical instructors at Upper Valley Career Center,” said Superintendent Jason Haak. “Their commitment to refining their skills through competitions and ongoing education not only sets a high standard for excellence but also inspires our students to achieve success in their chosen fields.”
Automotive Technology is one of the many career technical programs offered at UVCC. Located in Piqua, Ohio, UVCC serves students from multiple school districts in the Miami Valley region, providing hands-on training, industry certifications, and pathways to post-secondary education and careers. With a commitment to student success and innovation, UVCC is dedicated to providing the highest quality and most technologically advanced educational opportunities for students in a professional, caring environment while networking with the communities we serve.
For more information about Upper Valley Career Center and its programs, visit the
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