UTI Teams Up With Würth, Team Penske & Brad Keselowski to Honor Teachers

The COVID-19 pandemic put many things on pause this past year, but it didn’t stop learning from taking place here at Universal Technical Institute (UTI).

Thanks to our incredible instructors, students across our 12 campuses have been able to continue with their training and prepare for in-demand careers in the transportation industry.1 Whether it’s been prepping online curriculum or navigating new in-person class and lab formats, our instructors have worked tirelessly to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed.

To honor our instructors and show appreciation for all of the work they’ve done during these unprecedented times, UTI is teaming up with Würth USA, Team Penske and NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski to celebrate them in a way unlike anything you’ve seen before. Keep reading to learn all about this exciting initiative!

Paying Tribute to Teachers at a NASCAR Cup Series Race

At the NASCAR Cup Series race on May 16 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware, UTI instructors and Würth Trainers will see their names racing around the track on an original paint scheme designed for Keselowski’s No. 2 Würth Ford Mustang.

The names of 480 UTI instructors and 39 Würth Trainers will appear on the hood and roof of the car at the race, which follows National Teacher Appreciation Week from May 3 through May 7.

Award-winning UTI instructors from the Bloomfield, Illinois, and Exton, Pennsylvania, campuses will also be invited to attend the race and sit in a private suite along with Würth Trainers and employees.

This collaboration gives much-deserved recognition to the instructors and trainers who have persevered despite the many challenges that have come with teaching during a global pandemic. Their hard work, dedication and resilience have made a difference not only in the lives of their students but to the future of the industries they serve.

A Win-Win for All

This isn’t the first time UTI, Würth, Team Penske and Keselowski have come together to show appreciation for those who drive this industry forward. Last year, they worked together to honor 2020 UTI graduates at a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway (read about it here).

“Würth and Team Penske are valued industry partners to UTI, and we truly appreciate this opportunity to thank our educators,” says Jerome Grant, CEO of Universal Technical Institute.

“We are so proud of UTI’s instructors, because their heroic efforts have ensured student success. We’ve been able to continue providing industry-aligned training and graduate skilled technicians to help meet demand in the transportation industry. Our instructors’ countless late nights and early mornings deserve this unique recognition.”

For Würth, this upcoming event provides an opportunity to honor the connection between UTI instructors and Würth Trainers. Since 2018, Würth has supported UTI’s mission to deliver industry-aligned training by providing an annual product allowance and by hosting regular training sessions on UTI campuses.

“Technicians are the lifeblood of the repair and maintenance industry we are proud to serve, and many are our future customers,” says Thomas J. O’Neill, EVP, Würth Line Craft North America.

“This year, we’re taking the program to the next level by honoring the connection between UTI instructors and our Trainers, both of whom demonstrate a tremendous dedication to continued education and impacting students’ lives in a meaningful and positive way.”

For Team Penske, the custom paint scheme is a way to thank UTI for training the technicians who help them succeed on and off the track. In the last decade, they’ve employed more than 2,000 graduates, and currently they have NASCAR Technical Institute grads working on the crews for Keselowski, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney.24

“We appreciate the partnership and the value that UTI graduates bring to our team and our organization,” says Roger Penske, founder and chairman of Penske Corporation.

“We thank all of the UTI instructors and Würth Trainers that have worked so hard and found new ways to continue to provide elite training and education to their students during the pandemic. Team Penske is honored to recognize their efforts as they will be featured on the No. 2 Würth Ford Mustang during race weekend at Dover International Speedway.”

The race will be broadcast live on Sunday, May 16, beginning at 2 p.m. EDT on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) and on Motor Racing Network (MRN) radio. Be sure to follow UTI on Instagram @uti.tech, where we’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes content in the days leading up to the race. This will include photos of the car, an exclusive Q&A with Keselowski, and more!

Mentorship at UTI

Behind every great technician there are teachers and mentors who have invested in them along the way. Even some of the biggest names in the motorsports industry, like Keselowski, have mentors they credit for helping them get to where they are today.

For our instructors at UTI, this is more than just a job. Being able to pass on knowledge to the next generation and the rewarding feeling that comes with it is what drives them to do what they do.

According to Automotive instructor Anthony Mondi, “It’s that a-ha moment, when they understand … when they get it. You’re looking at students who may or may have not had prior experience coming here. When you finally get them to understand and they have that look on their face, that’s a proud moment.”

Welding instructor Miguel Carrillo shares a similar sentiment.

“What I love about working at UTI is I’m able to help the students,” he says. “I can actually see how their faces light up when I help them, and they’re very content with themselves and the weld they’ve done.”

The hours of hard work spent in and out of the classroom don’t go unnoticed by the students they teach.

According to graduate Alyssa Culver, “My experience in the program overall was amazing. All of the instructors were very willing to help and they would always put down everything they were doing just to help you with what you needed at the time.”

UTI would like to say a special thank you to all our instructors and the Würth Trainers who are playing a role in empowering the next generation of technicians. We look forward to honoring and celebrating you at the NASCAR Cup Series race on May 16!

To learn more about UTI and the programs we offer, request information today.