Recognition celebrates high school or college instructors from ASE-accredited repair programs who inspire the next generation
Leesburg, Va.—Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 ASE Education Foundation Outstanding Instructor of the Year award. This recognition celebrates high school or college instructors from ASE-accredited automotive, diesel/truck or collision repair programs who go above and beyond to inspire and guide the next generation of automotive service professionals.
Candidates for the ASE Education Foundation Outstanding Instructor of the Year award must be nominated by an administrator such as a principal, program director, dean, department chair or CTE director. Finalists will be contacted by an ASE Education Foundation field manager to verify their information and eligibility.
To nominate an outstanding instructor, administrators should complete the nomination form by March 31, 2025.
This year’s award recipient will receive a plaque, a $1,000 award and an expenses-paid trip for two to attend the ASE Instructor Training Conference held July 21-24 in St. Louis, as well as the ASE fall board of directors meeting and annual service professionals recognition banquet on Nov. 19, in Savannah, Ga.

The award honors the memory of Byrl Shoemaker. Dr. Shoemaker was the state director of vocational and adult education at the Ohio Department of Education from 1962 to 1982. He was a major contributor to education, including the development of the system of career technical education programs in Ohio and the development of the two-year post high school technician education centers that have grown into the system of community colleges across Ohio. Dr. Shoemaker was also instrumental in the development of VICA (now SkillsUSA) in Ohio as well as nationally and the development of NATEF (now ASE Education Foundation) accreditation, ensuring entry-level automotive repair training programs meet standards set by the automotive service industry at the national level.
“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.”
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