Thanks to two Manhattan High School seniors, Manhattan High School’s Automotive Technology program has received a special award from the Universal Technical Institute.

Drew Muller and Ryan Strouts scored in the top 10 percent nationwide after competing against more than 600 high school automotive technical programs in a written auto technology exam.

Muller achieved the top score for Kansas. He received an award of $5,000 to attend the Universal Technical Institute automotive /diesel program in Houston, Texas.

Strouts will attend the automotive/diesel program of Wyoming Technical Institute, Laramie, Wy. He also won a $500 scholarship award through Wyoming Technical Institute.

According to Steve Barnes, MHS Automotive Technology Instructor, both students will begin school in October.

"They are anxious to get on with their careers as hightech automotive/diesel technicians," Barnes said.