Castrol Awards Scholarship

Motor, Oct 2005 by Nash, Tom

Chris Burd of San Luis Obispo, California, was recognized as the national winner of the 2005 Castrol SYNTEC OUTPerformers Scholarship Program. Burd was honored during a special ceremony at the NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

The program encourages and attracts America's most passionate young car lovers to careers as automotive technicians while recognizing students already pursuing or enrolled in automotive service education. The aim of the scholarship is to expand young technicians' knowledge of automotive maintenance and technology through continuing their pursuit of automotive service careers.

As the national winner, Burd "outperformed" more than 600 students from across the United States. He was awarded a $7500 scholarship to attend an advanced racing, high-performance or automotive education program. He also won a week-long apprenticeship with Funkmaster Flex's Team Baurtwell Body Shop in New York.

Burd, 18, graduated from San Luis Obispo High School this year and now attends Cuesta College, also in San Luis Obispo. He became interested in cars two years ago and has since dedicated himself to learning as much as he can about them.

Burd's dedication allowed him to place first in the annual High SchoolTechnicians Automotive Contest (Hi-TAC) at Cuesta College. He also took first place in the SkillsUSA regional competition for automotive technology while still in high school. Burd said his goal is to earn ASE Master Technician Certification, the highest honor bestowed by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.