The ASE Education Foundation has opened nominations for its 2025 Outstanding Instructor of the Year award, an honor celebrating high school and college instructors who excel in training the next generation of automotive service professionals.
Candidates must be nominated by an administrator -- such as a principal, program director, dean, department chair or career and technical education (CTE) director -- by completing the nomination form before the March 31 deadline. Finalists will be contacted by an ASE Education Foundation field manager to confirm their eligibility.
The recipient of this prestigious award will receive a plaque, a $1,000 cash prize and an all-expenses-paid trip for two to both the ASE Instructor Training Conference, scheduled for July 21-24 in St. Louis, and the ASE fall board of directors meeting and annual service professionals recognition banquet on Nov. 19 in Savannah, GA.
The award honors the legacy of Dr. Byrl Shoemaker, a pioneer in automotive technical education. As the former state director of vocational and adult education at the Ohio Department of Education, Shoemaker played a pivotal role in shaping career technical education and the accreditation of entry-level automotive repair training programs nationwide.
"Dr. Byrl Shoemaker was one of the remarkable individuals in the automotive service education field whose impact endures well beyond his time," said Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation. "His efforts to advance technician education remain unmatched. To honor his memory, the ASE Education Foundation annually recognizes an outstanding instructor. This lifetime achievement award recognizes extraordinary educators whose dedication to technical education mirrors Dr. Shoemaker's unwavering passion."
For more information or to submit a nomination, visit the ASE Education Foundation's website before the March 31 deadline.
