ASE Education Foundation names 2025 Instructor of the Year 

Mike Coley, president of the ASE Education Foundation, presented Ken Kunz, an automotive instructor at Waubonsee Community College in Plano, Illinois, with the 2025 ASE Education Foundation Instructor of the Year award. 
  
The distinction, a lifetime achievement award given by the ASE Education Foundation, recognizes outstanding high school or college instructors from ASE-accredited automotive, diesel/truck, or collision repair programs who demonstrate exceptional personal dedication and commitment to students pursuing technical careers in the automotive industry. 
  
Coley stated that the purpose of the ASE Instructor Training Conference is to bring together automotive instructors from around the country, making it a fitting venue to honor the winning educators before their peers, something the Foundation started last year. 
  
Kuntz, an ASE Certified Master technician, was recognized for his 30 years in automotive education—five years with Lincoln Tech and 30 years with Waubonsee Community College, and his close connection with his students. He said that while he intends to retire in 2025, he won’t close the door on a return to his automotive career. 
  
In receiving his distinction, Kuntz thanked his wife, ASE, his colleagues, industry partners, and the students he’s taught over the years. 
  
“I’ve had a very successful career, and as educators, the way we measure the success of our career is by the success of our students. And I've had a lot of very successful students here,” Kuntz said. “Actually, one of my past students I had 30 years ago, (who I) didn't know was here, came up to say hello to me.” 
  
Kuntz shared other stories as he reflected on his career, crediting ASE for creating opportunities for him and his students to succeed. 
  
“One of the big doors that opened up for us is Yellowstone National Park. For the past 28 years, my students have worked in Yellowstone National Park. If you visit Yellowstone, you'll see Waubonsee pennants in every service station,” he said. 
  
Kuntz added that being an ASE-accredited program has also opened up manufacturer-based training for his students, noting that his school has gained training opportunities with Mopar, Toyota, Nissan, and Mercedes. He encouraged educators in the room to think about what’s going to benefit their students most and set them up for career-long success. 
  
“You want to look for opportunities for your students,” Kuntz said. “As my (college’s) president said, ‘Somebody takes you to the dance, now it's your turn to take somebody to the dance.”