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Compton wins state diesel competition again; Barnes victorious in professional contest

Compton wins state diesel competition again; Barnes victorious in professional contest

HASTINGS, NE – Current and past Northeast Community College students have won statewide competitions that feature the best professional and student diesel technicians in the state.

The 2018 Nebraska Super Tech is a statewide competition among professional heavy duty diesel technicians from fleets, dealerships and independent shops. A student contest is also held with diesel technology students from four of Nebraska’s community colleges.

Jack Compton took first place in the student division of the 2018 Nebraska Super Tech, held at Central Community College in Hastings recently. He also won the event in 2017. Compton, Pierce, won a $500 voucher that may be used towards tuition or books.

Although Compton is the back-to-back state champion, this is the fourth consecutive year that a Northeast Community College diesel technology student has won the Nebraska Super Tech. Ian Folkers, Hartington, claimed the student division title in 2016, while Evan Peterson, Stromsburg, took the top prize in the student category in 2015.

Prior to enrolling as a full-time student at the College last fall, Compton took dual credit courses through Northeast. He will be back as a sophomore in the diesel lab at the College this fall.

The 2018 professional Nebraska Super Tech Competition also had a Northeast influence. Morgan Barnes, a 2017 graduate of Northeast’s diesel technology program, won the competition and earned the right to compete at the American Trucking Association’s Technology and Maintenance Council’s (TMC) National Super Tech Competition in Orlando, FL, in September. Barnes is presently employed by Truck Center Companies in Norfolk.

More than 100 professional competitors registered to take the qualifying online, ASE-style test. Barnes and the other top 15 from the online test advanced to the hands-on skill stations final round at Central.

Northeast Community College offers two concentrations in its diesel technology program – truck and agriculture. The program instructs students in the basic knowledge and skills needed to service and repair diesel and gas-powered equipment. In addition to classroom study, students receive over 1,000 hours of lab training.

The Nebraska Trucking Association’s Maintenance Council organizes the Nebraska Super Tech competition.

 
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PHOTO IDs: Jack Compton (left) and Morgan Barnes. (Courtesy Northeast Community College)