Automotive Students Let Their Talents Shine in NJ SkillsUSA Competition

by Alana Quartuccio

Today’s students are tomorrow’s professionals. Training and mentoring them while they are in school plays a very important role in their quest for success in a career in collision and mechanical repair. 

Every year, the SkillsUSA New Jersey State Competition gives students the opportunity to show off their skills and talents, giving them further encouragement and support as they explore their love for the automotive profession. 

On March 22, Somerset County Vocational & Technical School once again hosted the collision repair competition. Congratulations go to first place winner Jaedon Leon (Elizabeth High School) in the collision repair competition! Coming in second place was Jon Ferry (Camden County Institute of Technology), and Lucas Krumpel Santos (Elizabeth High School) came in third place. 

Event organizer Charity Ritter (Bridgewater Collision Repair) expressed her gratitude to the following for taking the time out to judge the competition: Ivan Crespo, Peter Ritter, Al Bartocci, Gabrielle Depinto-D’Aquanni, Abigail Heim, Ted Rainer and David Gutierez. Ritter also gave special thanks to those who donated to the competition – John Vorhees of Central Paint supplied the materials, AASP/NJ and Auto Body Distributors donated tools and Bridgewater Collision donated the toolbox, tools and bags, including hand tools and T-shirts for each participating student. Special thanks also goes to Steve Moskal of Empire Auto Parts who donated 20 fenders for the competition.

On April 3, the mechanical competition was held at the Mercedes-Benz training facility in Robbinsville. Congratulations go to first place winner of the maintenance and light repair competition Carter Smith (Warren County Technical School) and first place winner of the automotive service technology competition Yaseen Williams (Burlington County Institute of Technology – West Hampton). Special thanks go to the generous sponsors that helped make the event a success: Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Milwaukee Tools, Snap-on Tools. Throughout the day of the competition, a mini career fair was conducted, and each participating student received a goody bag. 

Winning students will compete in the National SkillsUSA Competition in Atlanta, GA in June.

Congratulations to the winners:

Collision Repair Competition

First place: Jaedon Leon Elizabeth High School 

Second place: Jon Ferry Camden County 

Institute of Technology

Third place: Lucas Krumpel Santos 

Elizabeth High School

Mechanical Competition

First place (maintenance and light repair competition): Carter Smith Warren County Technical School

First place winner (automotive service technology competition): Yaseen Williams 

Burlington County Institute of Technology – West Hampton

Want more? Check out the May 2025 issue of New Jersey Automotive!