SWCC automotive students place third at 2025 auto skills contest

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) students Chas Parsons of Creston and Gaige Mohr of Afton, both students in SWCC's automotive repair technology program, placed third in the hands-on portion of the 2025 DMACC/IADA High School Automotive Skills Contest on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Ankeny.

This competition recognizes some of the best high school auto technicians in the state. SWCC students qualified following a written exam administered in October 2025. The top-testing teams were invited to participate in the hands-on competition. During this portion of the competition, autos were "bugged" with identical problems. The students diagnosed the issues during a 90-minute contest.

Parsons is a senior from Creston High School, and Mohr is a senior at East Union High School. They are both taking courses through SWCC's automotive Career Academy program. Michael Ramsey of Corning, a senior from Southwest Valley High School, was the alternate for the contest.

Career Academy programs offer high school students opportunities to take career and technical-related college coursework, through agreements between SWCC and their local high schools.

Kole Vogel & Jeff Sorensen, SWCC automotive repair technology instructors, accompanied the students to the competition.

Pictured above (L to R): SWCC automotive repair technology instructor Jeff Sorensen; SWCC students Gaige Mohr, Michael Ramsey, and Chas Parsons; and SWCC automotive repair technology instructor Kole Vogel.