RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Online applications are now being accepted for the 2013 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarship awards. The application process is now entirely electronic through the GAAS scholarship website,www.AutomotiveScholarships.com. The deadline to apply is Sunday, March 31, 2013.
The scholarships are available to students in two-year technical college programs and vocational schools as well as four-year college programs. To receive a GAAS scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time in a college-level program or an ASE/NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation) certified automotive technical program. Graduate programs and part-time undergraduate programs do not qualify.
The GAAS scholarship is unique in that technician recipients can receive two financial grants: one while in school to assist with tuition and an equivalent grant awarded to scholarship recipients who graduate from their program and show proof of post-graduation employment as a technician in the automotive aftermarket for at least six months.
By completing a single online application at the GAAS website, students will be considered for GAAS scholarships, plus scholarships from a number of industry partners.
In 2012 to date, a total of 138 students were awarded 163 scholarships by the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship fund, its contributors and other groups collaborating with the GAAS Scholarship website, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com. Twenty-one students received two awards, and two students received three awards from their one application. Individual scholarships ranged from $250 to $2,500; in total, $178,000 was awarded. In its 16-year history, the fund has presented more than $1.5 million in awards to more than 1,600 students.
“We especially thank the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, which funded 50 awards in 2012,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. “In 2012, nearly 500 qualified students completed scholarship applications at the site. The GAAS scholarship website, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com, is now established as a one-stop shop for students seeking automotive scholarships, as evidenced by the number of students receiving multiple awards from GAAS and its partners.”
GAAS collaborates with these state associations and other automotive groups:
* Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN)
* Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS)
* Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT)
* Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (AAAS)
* Automotive Parts & Services Association (APSA)
* Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois (APSA of IL)
* California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA)
* Kentucky/Indiana Automotive Wholesalers Association (KIAWA)
* Michigan Automotive Parts Association (MAPA)
* New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA)
* Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association (OVAAA)
* Wisconsin Automotive Part Association (WAPA)
The following foundations and organizations also collaborate with GAAS to award scholarships:
* Automotive Communication Council
* Breslow Foundation
* Gates Corporation
* Larry McCurdy Memorial Fund
* Leadership Development Network
* Michael Busch Memorial Fund
* Mitchell 1
* Multi Parts Supply
* National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
* Polk
* Standard Motor Products
* Stant Corporation
* Women’s Car Care Council (WB)
Additional scholarship funding comes from industry contributions provided by individuals, companies and foundations. Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at 301-654-6664, or [email protected].
