Cerritos College’s Automotive Technology Department hosted its high school competition on Jan. 24.

The Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association and Southland Motor Car Dealers Association sponsored the event.

“It’s a hands-on competition. (Contestants) have to identify components of a car, retrieve codes out of a car, etc.” explained David Roner, the lab technician.

According to Roner, all high schools were invited to come and bring two representatives.

The schools that participated were North Hollywood, Montebello, Lynwood, Bell Gardens, Narbonne, California, Agoura, Belmont, Mark Keppel, Artesia and the Southeast Regional Occupational Program.

“Everyone who wins gets a meter. Third place will a get a tool set, second a renon set, and first place will get a roll box plus a trip to New York,” Roner said.

Agoura High School won first place.

The competition is held every year at Cerritos College.

Its main purpose is to try to get students to attend Cerritos.

“We have the largest automotive school in California, or at least we like to think we (do),” Jon Bender, an automotive instructor, alleged.

In accordance with Bender, the Cerritos automotive technology program works with dealers such as GM, Ford and Chrysler.

Also, not only do the students get work with actual automotive companies but they get paid internships along with their education.