Hohverg Palacios-Poxtan (pictured center), a student of Smoky Mountain High School, recently competed in an automotive technology competition on Saturday, February 11, at NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC, and won a $5,000 grant.

In the Top Tech Challenge, Hohverg competed in both hands-on and written tests on vehicle parts, engines, diagnostics and electrical systems using NASCAR Tech’s state-of-the-industry facility and equipment.

NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech), a division of Universal Technical Institute, Inc (NYSE: UTI) and a leading workforce solutions provider of transportation and skilled trades education programs, welcomed high school students from around the region to compete for a total of $76,000 in grants using in-demand automotive technology skills and knowledge in two separate competitions, the Top Tech Challenge and the Auto Tech Challenge.