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Mitsubishi Motors Awards Scholarships to Orange County Tech Students

24 January 2000

Mitsubishi Motors Awards Scholarships to Orange County Tech Students; Students Take Top Honors in Regional Automotive Technology Competition

    CYPRESS, Calif., Jan. 24 -- In a competitive test of
automotive knowledge and troubleshooting skills, two Marina High School
students rose to the technological challenge, each winning a $2,500
scholarship from Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. (MMSA).
    The Orange County Automotive Technology Competition is an automotive
challenge which allows students to apply their automotive expertise to
inspect, repair and record a sequence of "bugs" on a vehicle.  Two-member
teams from eight Orange County high schools competed in this year's
competition.
    The first place team of Colin Harris and Kelly Hatada prepared for several
months for the competition under the direction of Mike Rittenhouse, instructor
for Marina High School, located in Huntington Beach, CA.  In addition, Kelly
Hatada holds the distinction of being the first female student to win the
Orange County competition.
    The winning team of Harris and Hatada, along with winners from other
regional competitions, will meet in New York in April to compete in the
Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association's National Automotive
Technology Competition Finals -- an event showcased at the New York
International Automobile Show.
    "There is a definite need for qualified automotive technicians," said
Stephanie Keefe, MMSA corporate relations administrator.  "This automotive
technology competition is part of a prestigious nationwide program teaching
students marketable skills, as well as providing opportunities for auto
technicians of the new millennium."
    To qualify for the competition, students took a written test challenging
their automotive knowledge.  Two-person teams paired up to work on a vehicle
provided by an automotive sponsor.  A panel of judges determined how well the
teams diagnosed and resolved each diagnostic problem and if they properly
recorded the solution.  In the event of a tie, judges refer to the written
test scores.
    This automotive technology competition program is just one of the ways
Mitsubishi Motors demonstrates its commitment to the President's Summit for
America's Future, also known as America's Promise.  As one of 120 companies,
and the only automotive company chosen to participate in America's Promise,
Mitsubishi Motors has pledged to reach a half million youth by providing
marketable skills through various programs by the year 2001.
    Mitsubishi Motors has been a sponsor of automotive technology competitions
since 1992, encouraging students to earn a higher education by awarding the
competition prizes in scholarship form.  To date, MMSA's efforts include
annual sponsorship of four regional competitions and the national competition
in New York; scholarships for students to use toward their education; vehicles
and various vehicle parts donated to automotive technology programs; and
contributions to vocational/tech programs awarded first place in national
finals.
    Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc. was established in 1982 by
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Tokyo, and markets a full line of vehicles,
including coupes, convertibles, sedans and sport utility vehicles.  The
website address is http://www.mitsubishicars.com.