WASHINGTON TERRACE, Utah  —  Automotive tech students at Bonneville High School received the School of the Year award last week, and the school’s shop was named Top Tech Shop in the nation. 

The students and their teacher, Adam Arndt, were presented with the award last week at the WIX Filters and Babcox Media Night of Excellence.

To earn this award the school must be nominated by a local industry. Then, letters of recommendation are written by students and their parents. Finally, the students make a video of the shop. 

“The students came together to prove their hard-earned skills do mean something,” said Arndts. “That the automotive industry is a highly technical career. That it’s way more than turning wrenches.”

Arndts said that the students have been “winning events and shows all summer and doing service projects for the community.”

Winning this award helps the school’s automotive program financially. The school’s automotive program received a $10,000 WIX Filters donation and WIX Filters gear.

Arndt said that the award has helped the students emotionally, by instilling confidence.

“They are walking with their heads high and more confidence in their step,” he said.

Arndt said he gets the feeling that most of these students will go on to work in the automotive industry, a large industry that certainly has room for them.

“The automotive industry is the second largest in the world,” Adam said. “It has so many opportunities.”

And anybody can do it, he said.

“You don’t have to be the sharpest tool in the shed but, you have to be the hardest working tool in the shed.”

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