LEWISTOWN — Addison Hook and Cole Morrison proved they were Mifflin County’s finest, while qualifying for the recent 2025 Pennsylvania Automobile Association Skip Wagner Automotive Technology Competition in Hershey.

The two Mifflin County Academy of Science and Technology students also had a chance to see how their skills stacked up with the best in the state.

Hook and Morrison, both seniors at Mifflin County High School, placed fourth overall at the highly-anticipated annual event, which invited high school students from across the state to showcase their skills and knowledge in automotive technology at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey.

This year, the competition is set to be a thrilling test of talent, teamwork, and technical proficiency, reinforcing the importance of hands-on experience in the automotive industry.

To qualify for this prestigious competition, high school seniors from automotive technology programs had to complete a challenging online exam consisting of more than 100 questions.

The top two highest scorers from each school earned the opportunity to represent their career and technical education-based school at the competition, which is designed to encourage and nurture the next generation of automotive professionals.

During the competition, students had to diagnose and repair vehicles that were modified to present specific malfunctions. With all vehicles sharing the same defect that prevents them from starting, competitors engage in a unique challenge that tests their problem-solving abilities under pressure.

The competition featured two rotations for the teams — while five teams focus on diagnosing the cars, the other five will be engaged in various workstation tasks. Each rotation lasted for 90 minutes, providing participants with an immersive experience that mirrors real-world automotive scenarios.

PAA Automotive Competition extended invitations to more than 80 schools, with 18 schools signing up and a total of 124 students taking the qualifying written exam.

The Academy was one of the top 10 schools that participated in the 2025 competition, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication found within Pennsylvania’s automotive technology programs. The others included AW Beattie Career Center, of Allison Park, Allegheny County; Berks Career and Technology Center East Campus, of Oley, Berks County; Carbon County Career and Technical Institute, of Jim Thorpe; Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center, of Mechanicsburg; and Dauphin County Technical School, of Harrisburg.

Also participating were Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, of Willow Street; Technical College High School Brandywine, of Downingtown; Wallenpaupack Area High School, of Hawley, Wayne County; and York County School of Technology, of York.

The competition not only enhances the experience for participants but also provides young adults with critical insights into the automotive industry, bridging the gap between education and real-world application.