On April 25, four students from the Waubonsee Community College's Automotive Technology Program earned a spot to compete in the Mopar® Career Automotive Program (CAP) Bracket Challenge against SUNY Morrisville in Auburn Hills, MI. They secured second place in a fiercely contested national competition involving 100 schools.
The Waubonsee students who competed included:
- Jose Gallegos, of Oswego
- Aaron Fisher, of Aurora
- Mason Seput, of Joliet
- Briana Powell, of Channahon
The Mopar® CAP Bracket Challenge, a unique and prestigious national competition, is characterized by technical and curriculum-based bracket knockout-style contests. At finals, the students demonstrated their practical skills and expertise in four timed modules. These modules were carefully designed to assess their knowledge, skills, and communication. They took place at four hands-on repair stations focusing on Chrysler/Dodge vehicles. Each station lasted 40 minutes and involved tasks such as electrical problem-solving, scan tool utilization, troubleshooting no-start conditions, and conducting engine timing chain services.
Taking second place, Waubonsee students were awarded multiple Mopar® prizes and were pleasantly surprised with a 2018 Challenger SRT Demon, granted on loan to facilitate training at the Sugar Grove Campus. Waubonsee continues to lead nationally in Mopar®’s programs.
Students also had the opportunity to tour the GM Validation Test Center with former Waubonsee alumnus Aaron Aguilar followed by a dinner with Waubonsee alumni Chris Chaney and Drew Kleyweg, GM corporate employees, who shared their career paths and provided valuable advice to the students. In addition, the students visited Zeigler Motorsports in Kalamazoo, MI where they observed the service shop in operation, servicing nine different powersport models.
Waubonsee Professor of Automotive Technology Ken Kunz expressed his appreciation, stating, “It was great to see our past graduates helping our current students.”
Pictured above (from left to right): Waubonsee Community College Automotive Technology Program students Mason Seput, Briana Powell, Aaron Fisher and Jose Gallegos pictured at the Mopar® Career Automotive Program (CAP) Bracket Challenge Finals
