Oxford High School teacher Dan Balsley gives his students the tools they need to succeed both figuratively and literally.

Nearly half the students in Balsley’s Automotive Technology 2 class walked away with an assortment of new tools and other prizes after putting their minds and hands to work during the Mini-MITES competition on March 27.

Junior Jacob Butterfield won first place, junior Matt Peters took second and junior Nathan McMaken finished third.

“I came in fairly confident,” Butterfield said. “For the most part, I had a good feeling (during the competition).”

“I did a lot better than I expected,” Peters said.

“I came in not really expecting to do that well,” McMaken said. “I’m happy that I at least placed.”

Nineteen students took part in the two-hour contest.

They vied with each other in six areas – brakes, steering and alignment, suspension, electrical, scan tool diagnostics and automotive measuring. They also took a written competency test.

Mini-MITES tests auto students skills and knowledge by having them perform tasks, take readings, identify parts and take measurements.

Every year, MITES, which stands for Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society, hosts a statewide competition for high school students studying skilled trades. Inspired by this  larger competition, Balsley borrowed the format and started Mini-MITES in 2014.

Balsley organized a smaller version as a way to motivate the upperclassmen in his Auto Tech 2 and 3 classes.

Auto Tech 2 students compete, while Auto Tech 3 students set up and supervise the competition stations and grade the contestants.

Unlike the annual brake competition for Auto Tech 1 students, which involves two-person teams squaring off, Mini-MITES is an individual competition. Each student succeeds or fails on their own.

Balsley believes the “natural rivalry” between students “spurs” them on and encourages them to “excel.”

“It makes it exciting and fun,” he said.

In addition to the top three placers, five other students walked away with awards and prizes at Mini-MITES. They were Terry Sculley, Colton Earhart, Cammron Hauxwell, Noah Pare and Ryan Cobb.

Balsley’s students speak highly of the Automotive Technology program at OHS.

“I think it’s a great class and more schools should offer classes like this,” Butterfield said.

“I think it’s a really good program and everyone should at least take the first year of it,” Peters said.

Butterfield said the most valuable thing about the program is it teaches you how to “get out and do the work yourself, instead of paying some other guy to do it for you.”

For more photos from the competition, check out a copy of this week’s Leader.