Agincourt CI Students Represent Canada

Congratulations to Agincourt CI students who won the TADA Automotive Skills competition held recently at the Toronto International Auto Show. Grade 12 students Hansen Cao and Huzaifa Misbah who are both enrolled in a Transportation Technology course at Agincourt CI successfully defeated 16 GTA schools. The four-hour competition challenges the student’s theoretical and hands-on skills. Two hours were dedicated to the inspection, diagnosis and repair of a 2013 VW Jetta that was ‘bugged’ with various faults by Centennial College staff and students. Vehicles would not start and had other electrical related problems. The two students managed to pull it off and got the vehicle started – no easy task even for a seasoned mechanic.  The other two hours had them working at various workstations that included electrical, brakes, waveform diagnosis, steering and suspension.

Their win at the Toronto Auto show means that the school will receive a new GM vehicle that will be used for educational purposes at the school as well as other automotive related prizes. The students both walked away with prizes and scholarship opportunities from Centennial College’s School of Transportation in Scarborough. The win also qualifies the team to participate in the National Automotive Technology Competition being held at the New York International Auto Show where they will compete against 32 teams from the United States. ACI’s team will be the sole Canadian representation at the prestigious event.

Teacher Mark Solomon who has been training students for the last 8 years and just started a new Robotics focused course at the school boasts “I’m extremely proud of our entire team and this is a fantastic win. The school administrative team has always been supportive especially our Principal Mr. Papathanasakis so this really is a special win not just for the students but for all of us.”

His colleague Joel McDonald, a first year teacher, also trained this year’s team to represent ACI. Hansen Cao who participated in last year’s competition was one of the two successful students chosen by Mr. McDonald to compete this year. Hansen’s team placed seventh in 2012 and the driving force this year was to be more successful than ACI’s highest ranking team of fifth place.  

In the meantime, the boys will keep training with Mr. McDonald and with the assistance of the automotive dealers that support the program (Agincourt Autohaus, and Brimell Toyota) they are bound for success.