The team from a Colorado community college won a student tech competition at a major trade show.

The Arapahoe Community College team, made up of Schafer Eirich, John Parmley, and their instructor Bob Parmley, won the student competition at the

AAPEX Show in Las Vegas. This year, nine teams of two from seven different high schools and technical colleges raced to dismantle a small block V8 engine and then reassemble it faster than the rest.

Eirich and Parmley posted a winning time of 39 minutes and 11 seconds – nearly 65 minutes faster than the 2025 winning team.

The competition consisted of two semi-final rounds, where the fastest two teams then advanced to the finals round, where one team came out on top.

As the winners of the competition, Eirich and Parmley received the Carlyle Apprentice Program Tool Kit (including the tool cart), the Milwaukee Tool M12 FUEL 3-pc Automotive Kit, and the SP Tools CONX Hybrid Master System Kit. 

Nine teams from seven high schools and colleges competed.