East Providence students Cardoza, Medeiros win state-wide automotive competition

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence Career and Technical Center seniors Matthew Cardoza and Luis Medeiros were the winners of the annual Ocean State Automotive Contest held Friday, Jan, 27, an event hosted by the New England Institute of Technology in cooperation with the R.I. Automobile Dealers Association.

Cardoza and Medeiros advance to represent Rhode Island at the National Automotive Dealers competition in New York on April 17-19.

“It was good, a good time. We learned a few things and it was a lot of fun. We practiced hard. We went above what we do in class. We spent extra time. We had another teacher come in and help us out. We did a lot to get ready,” Cardoza said of the state event.

On heading to the national event in New York, he added, “It’s definitely going to more difficult than the one we just went to, that’s for sure. But I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait.”

The state event provides an opportunity for high school seniors to demonstrate their automotive technical abilities, according to EPCTC instructor Joe Barroso, who added though EPCTC students has fared well in the competition in recent years none had won the championship in at least two decades.

Competitors worked at various stations to complete assigned tasks or to troubleshoot technical “bugs” that have been planted in the vehicles. Teams of two high school seniors from various Rhode Island career and technical centers had 15 minutes to complete each station. The workstations include braking systems, steering and suspension systems, electrical and electronics systems, information systems, engine repair, parts identification and engine performance. Students also had to take part in a written exam in which the score was added to the final team total.

“We’ve been friends since sophomore year and we just both like cars. And we just really work well together," said Medeiros.

“In the morning, we were both in the parking lot waiting, talking off topic, but then when it started the nerves kicked in,” he continued. “When we took the written test, we were like, ‘Oh, God, are we going to do good?’ Then, the first station came, and it was like, ‘This is easy.’ And then the rest of the stations just flew, but the nerves never left.”

Approximately an hour went by between the end of the competition and before the students found out the results. The main portion of the event took place at the New England Tech instructional facility in Warwick while the awards ceremony was held at its other campus in East Greenwich. The students ate lunch, mingled and traveled from one site to the other in that time.

“They kept us in suspense, that’s for sure,” Cardoza said. “In the time between, we were wondering if we won.”

Medeiros added, “I’m so happy, really excited. We both wanted to win, but we weren’t sure we were going to. So when they called us up and told us that we won, it was amazing.”

In addition to their awards and the trip to New York, Cardoza and Medeiros each received scholarships to New England Tech and equipment from Snap-On Tools. Cardoza also received a special honor as the participant with the highest written test score.

“From Day 1, they were a special group, tight knit. They’re both very particular,” Barroso explained. “They worked their butts off, and they both do well academically.”

Barroso said key for both students is they were old enough, 18, and scholastically qualified to enter into a co-operative employment program offered through the EPCTC. Cardoza participates in the co-op at Hassell’s Garage on Wampanoag Trail in city while Medeiros takes part through Town Fair Tire in neighboring Seekonk.

“Both of them do fantastic,” Barroso added. “I check in with them every week, making sure they turn in their paperwork. And they still have to stay on top of their task sheets and class assignments. So, really, it’s difficult for them, but their learning curve had been through the roof. They’re in the industry. They understand the business side. They know about customer satisfaction and they understand there’s a time constraint, that they need to get the job done right and quickly. So they’re really learning about it all.”