In honor of National Signing Day on May 6, NAPA and SkillsUSA hosted a celebration at Truist Park in Atlanta. They recognized four standout Georgia students launching careers in the automotive technician trade. This event represents one of many steps NAPA is taking to address the national technician shortage.
Each student signed a commitment to join the trades during an official ceremony. Honorees included Deisy Palomo Rios (Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy), Aidan Williams (Forsyth Central High School), Cynthia Ramirez (Maxwell High School of Technology), and Judson Cliatt (West Laurens High School). These students will pursue apprenticeships or post-secondary training to begin their careers.
Each student signed a commitment to join the trades during an official ceremony.
Empowering Careers with Tools and Scholarships
To help jumpstart their careers, all four honorees received a professional-grade Carlyle toolbox kit. Carlyle Tools, a NAPA-owned brand, recently launched a new product line designed to support future technicians. The toolbox gift provided both practical and symbolic support to the students.
NAPA also surprised two students with scholarships. Palomo Rios and Cliatt each received a $2,500 scholarship to help fund their education in automotive technology. These scholarships and the overall event show NAPA’s deep investment in solving the technician shortage.
Celebrating the Trade and the Technician Shortage Solution
Organizers noted that trade careers often lack the celebration seen in traditional college graduations. NAPA and SkillsUSA created this event to honor the dedication of Georgia’s aspiring technicians.
The national technician shortage remains a pressing issue. The aftermarket industry will need 795,000 trade professionals by 2027. By investing in young talent and recognizing career commitments, NAPA supports a sustainable future—one skilled technician at a time.
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