This year’s Ford ACE all-day skills competition, hosted by Manchester Community College, was supported by several industry sponsorships from NHADA members including Best Ford, Bill Dube Ford, Grappone Ford, Ford of Londonderry, McFarland Ford, McFarland Ford of Rochester, Portsmouth Ford, and Salem Ford. These sponsors contributed to prizes, food, skill stations, and volunteering, and matched the Foundation’s $4,500 scholarship donation, totaling $9,000 in awards to students. Additionally, the winning school received a 2024 Ford Mustang from Ford Motor Company to enhance their training.
The students from all over New Hampshire were eager to impress attending dealers and put their skills to the test with several prizes on the line. Competing students demonstrated the skills they have learned through their education and on-the-job experience through hands-on teamwork and individual written exams. Participants worked in teams to diagnose and repair various issues in a Ford Bronco, showcasing their practical skills in a dynamic setting. Among the top prizes were Icon tool sets and scholarships to further their automotive careers. The dealerships matched the Foundation's $4500 in scholarships, and the winning school was also awarded a 2024 Ford Mustang to be able to work on by the Ford Motor Company!
Congratulations to the Winners:
Thank you to all the schools who attended, including Concord Regional Technical Center, Dover Regional CTE, Nashua Technology Center, Pinkerton Academy Portsmouth CTE, Richard W. Crete Regional Technology Center, Salem CTE, Seacoast School of Technology
About New Ford Tech:
New Ford Tech is a system of educational programs, outreach initiatives, and resources designed to build and support a career as a professional service technician. Both ACE and ASSET fall under the New Ford Tech umbrella and aim to guide students into an automotive career.
Automotive Career Exploration (ACE) is a partnership program between Ford Motor Company, Ford/Lincoln dealerships, and secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. The intent of the program is to raise awareness and increase interest in career opportunities within the automotive industry, ultimately as a service technician. ACE students earn Ford eLearning course credit that can be transferred into their ASSET student profile.
Automotive Student Service Education Training (ASSET) is the alliance between Ford Motor Company, Ford and Lincoln dealers, community colleges, and technical schools to support a career as a professional service technician. Students alternate for six to eight weeks in the classroom and six to eight weeks with their sponsoring Ford or Lincoln dealer over a two-year period. At the end of the two years, they earn an Associate’s and valuable in-dealer experience.