North Kansas
City Schools District
2 NKC Schools high school students race to victory in national engine-building contest
2 NKC Schools high school students race to victory in national engine-building contest
DECEMBER 8, 2025
LAS VEGAS -- Two high school students from North Kansas City Schools powered their way to a surprise victory last month, claiming the top spot in the first-ever student engine assembly competition at the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
The winning duo, 17-year-olds Taem Aljallad from Oak Park High School and Adrian Madinger from Staley High School, outperformed teams from two Las Vegas vocational-technical colleges on Nov. 6 by successfully disassembling and reassembling a classic Chevy 350 engine in just 1 hour and 44 minutes.
Adrian Madinger, left, and Taem Aljallad work to reassemble the engine as their instructor, Jack Stow, looks on. (AAPEX)
“Our biggest challenges were the tools. We only had one extension for each size of the ratchets we had,” Adrian told ESPN’s Danielle Trotta from the Mecum Auctions in Kansas City. “Another big challenge was a lot of the markings of the pistons … we had to overcome and get through that problem.”
The NKC Schools students, guided by NKC Schools Automotive Program instructor Jack Stow, demonstrated veteran-level focus under intense pressure. Coaches were limited to verbal advice only.
"We were incredibly proud of Taem and Adrian simply for signing up for the competition," Stow told AAPEX. "They put in the work outside of school hours, learned to trust each other and that teamwork helped them to win the competition."
Taem told ESPN the sense of pride and accomplishment after winning the competition was well deserved.
“We spent a lot of time that wasn't school time on building and dissembling the engines and understanding it,” he said. “It just feels great that like all that hard work that you spent on something didn't go to waste.”
Winning team photo; from left to right: Bernard Tansey, (co-emcee/organizer), Taem Aljallad, Adrian Madinger, Bogi Lateiner (co-emcee), Jack Stow, Joseph DeLorme (a competition sponsor from Dorman Products). (AAPEX)
Taem and Adrians’ victory has an impact stretching far beyond the district's automotive program, according to instructor Jack Stow.
"There is a national shortage of technicians right now," Stow told Staley News. "We need people who can fix things. And these kids, they proved that the future of the trades is in good hands."
READ MORE: AUTO STUDENTS WIN INTERNATIONAL ENGINE-BUILDING CONTEST
For their outstanding performance, Taem and Adrian were awarded gift cards and new Milwaukee tool kits. Additionally, two professional-grade Milwaukee tool kits were donated to the NKC Schools Automotive Program, ensuring future students will benefit from their success.
AAPEX said the student engine assembly competition will become an annual event, ensuring future NKC Schools students will have the opportunity to showcase their skills on a national stage.
About NKC Schools Automotive Technology Program
North Kansas City Schools Automotive Technology Program is accredited by the ASE Education Foundation and students are eligible to receive college credits through Johnson County Community College. If you are currently attending one of the four high schools in North Kansas City Schools and are interested in taking classes in Automotive Technology, please see your school counselor or email Jack Stow at jack.stow@nkcschools.org.
Media Contact
Chris Oberholtz, Assistant Director of Media Communications
chris.oberholtz@nkcschools.org | 816-836-9384