AKRON, Ohio – WIX Filters and O’Reilly Auto Parts have partnered with Tomorrow’s Technician magazine as title sponsors for the 2012 School of the Year competition, a national contest to find and name the best technician training school in the country. Schools can nominate their programs for the award by Aug. 31 at www.ttschooloftheyear.com.
“WIX is a longtime supporter of excellence in education,” said Mike Harvey, brand manager for WIX Filters, which was an associate sponsor of last year’s competition. “The 2012 School of the Year program promotes the very best in technician education and is an amazing opportunity for schools to gain nationwide exposure for their technician programs.”
The School of the Year program is open to all high schools or post-secondary schools that have a subscription to Tomorrow’s Technician. Twenty finalists will be announced after all submissions are received on Aug. 31. Judges will then review entry criteria and select the top school from each of the four regions in the U.S. – or "The Final Four." The winner will be selected from the four finalists and announced in October.
“O’Reilly Auto Parts has, over the years, had a committed history of being there for automotive technicians,” said Jeff Stankard, publisher of Tomorrow’s Technician, a Babcox Media publication for automotive students. “With their sponsorship of the School of the Year program, we know that they also are committed to the next generation of technicians.”
In addition, Stankard said, “WIX Filters has shown that they believe in this country’s future automotive technicians and have helped make this annual recognition award an amazing success.”
The winning school will receive a visit by Tomorrow’s Technician staff and program sponsors; $2,500 WIX Filters donation to the school’s program; O’Reilly and WIX Filters gear (hats, backpacks, shop banners and stools, product samples); and an appearance by either the WIX or O’Reilly Auto Parts mobile marketing unit. In addition, the winning school’s instructor and guest will travel to Las Vegas and attend a Babcox recognition dinner at AAPEX in November.
Each school that is nominated will receive national recognition on the Tomorrow’s Technician website, as well as through social media outlets. Schools that are selected to the Final Four will receive a more than 200-piece professional automotive tool set from O’Reilly Auto Parts and $500 in gift cards ($250 each from O’Reilly Auto Parts and WIX Filters).
