SAN DIEGO — The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) has named Max Caldwell of Pratt, Kansas, as the 2024 Mitchell 1/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year with a $1,000 cash prize.
An instructor in the automotive department at Pratt Community College, Caldwell earned an associate's degree from the college in 2021 and a bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, in 2023. He is pursuing a graduate degree in Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Pittsburg State University, with plans to complete the program by 2026.
Caldwell holds ASE certifications in A1-8, G1 and L1, as well as cylinder head and engine machinist certifications from the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA).
"I was lucky enough to impress my former instructors, Greg Bacon and Daryl Lucas, and was asked to come back to teach. My goal is to help students find a place in the automotive field," Caldwell said.
"Max's hard work and dedication have set him apart, placing him among the top-scoring ASE-certified professionals. We're thrilled to celebrate his achievements and can't wait to see how his education and career continue to evolve," Jen MacDonald, director of marketing for Mitchell 1, said.
To receive the Mitchell 1 and ASE Technician of the Year/Future Award, the winner must be ASE-certified, have registered as a student and earned the highest cumulative test scores on the A4, A5, A6 and A8 tests.
