LOS ANGELES ? Brian Torres and Deserea Godinez, a couple of California high school students, got a first-hand look at the hottest new cars and trucks on display last week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Both are members of the Automotive Youth Educational Systems program, which works to recruit the next generation of auto technicians for the nation’s auto dealers.

Torres and Godinez, both students at Granada Hills Charter High School in Granada Hills, California, are gear heads who were excited to get an up close look at the latest concept and production vehicles; new technologies such as hybrid and fuel-cell powertrains; and the opportunity to interview manufacturers and share opinions on their offerings and latest trends.

?I like to work on cars and this is more than a perfect opportunity to see the latest technology,? Torres said in a telephone interview. ?My father is very much into the auto industry. He used to be a mechanic. So it comes to me almost second nature.?

Godinez voiced a similar story.

?My father takes a great interest in his cars, so when I saw this program available at Granada Hills, I signed up for it,? she said. ?I want to work on the cars and learn the components inside. But I?d like to start by working as a tech in a dealership. I have a dealer internship lined up for next year. I?m looking for a career, not just something to keep me busy until I graduate. I could do this for my future.?

Such talk is music to the ears of the AYES program, a partnership among 14 automakers, the National Automobile Dealer?s Association, state Automotive Trade Association Executives, Departments of Education, local dealers, and 410 high schools and tech prep school programs.

AYES? goal is to encourage quality students with a good mechanical aptitude to pursue careers in the auto service technology or collision repair and refinish. Students also are prepared for entry-level positions or post-secondary academic jobs.

Attracting qualified young people to the trade is becoming tougher, at a time when tech jobs at dealerships go a begging. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the auto industry will need 35,000 new technicians every year through 2010. Automotive Retailing Today, a coalition of automakers and retailers, says there are 37,000 vacant technician positions now.

The AYES program recently received a $2.2 million grant from the federal government to expand. It’s free for students except for the cost of some books and tools, which participating dealerships are asked to help defray.

The pay is solid with technicians earning $30,000 to $60,000 in metro areas, and master technicians making $70,000, according to AYES.

Qualified high school juniors are invited to take part in AYES. In addition to taking the required academic courses toward their high school degrees, they’ll take classroom and laboratory courses in basic automotive technology or collision repair and refinish.

For more information, click on AYES.Org