Upper Valley Career Center instructor and Anna resident Andy Buehler holds up a trophy after winning a nationwide auto technician competition in Florida earlier this month.
Courtesy photo
Upper Valley Career Center automotive technology instructor Andy Buehler emerged victorious at the annual US Auto Tech Championships earlier this month.
The nationwide competition, which was held in West Palm Beach, Florida, showcases the skills of auto technician professionals and students across the country. Participants compete in various challenges that test their skills in diagnostics, repair, and general automotive knowledge.
Buehler, an Anna resident, has been an instructor at UVCC for seven years and has competed in the US Auto Tech Championships for the last four.
“I started competing in 2021 and I made the top 16. In 2022, I got fourth place and last year I got third,” Buehler said.
This year, he left as the champion.
“It has all been a whirlwind,” Buehler said about taking home the win. “As an instructor, this proves to me that I still have the technical skills needed to be one of the best in the nation.”
This year, competitors had to replace inner and outer tire rods, rack and pinion bellows boot, brakes and rotors on the front axles and balance two tires. Competitors are judged on three main components: accuracy, speed and following directions.
“All of this work was approximately four hours of billable work, but they gave us two hours to do it and I finished in an hour and a half,” Buehler said.
His students could not be more proud, which was evident to him today as he was welcomed back to a round of applause from his seniors.
“We are extremely proud of Mr. Buehler and all of our dedicated career technical instructors at Upper Valley Career Center,” superintendent Jason Haak said. “Their commitment to refining their skills through competitions and ongoing education not only sets a high standard for excellence but also inspires our students to achieve success in their chosen fields.”
Automotive Technology is one of the many career technical programs offered at UVCC.
