On April 7-8, a group of five students and Aims Instructor, Mike Hanscome, traveled to Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado Springs, CO. where the students competed in the state SkillsUSA competition. Falconer won first place in the refinishing competition, and Kennedy won first place in collision repair. Austin Grider placed second in the refinishing competition.
“Our automotive program is a wonderful example of excellence in the classroom fostering opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, president of Aims Community College. “The skills and achievements of Ben, Grant and many other automotive students validate what business leaders can anticipate when they hire a graduate from our automotive program.”

Team picture from left to right: Alan Madrid, Austin Grider, Ben Falconer, Grant Kennedy, Mike Hanscome (instructor) and Frank Dabbiero.

This will be the second consecutive year Falconer and Kennedy will attend the national competition. In 2015, Falconer won first place in the refinishing competition, and Kennedy was awarded eighth in the collision repair category at nationals.

To read how Kennedy and Falconer did at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY, which took place June 20–24, click here.