TROY, Mich. — The Bendix team is extremely passionate about what they do – which is why they’re celebrating their 85th anniversary by helping others who are interested in the automotive service field. From Sept. 22 – Dec. 1, 2009, U.S. residents 18 years and older who are interested in pursuing a career in automotive technology can enter "The Passion That Drives You Scholarship" contest from Bendix Brakes. 
“Raising enough money to attend a career tech school can be extremely difficult, especially in this economy,” said Jim Kelley, director of sales, North America for Friction Materials LLC. “We want each young man and woman to be able to pursue their career goals, and we’re excited to be able to offer $20,000 in scholarships.”
In order to help spread the word about this scholarship program, the Bendix team worked with PR and Social Media Agency, Weber Shandwick, to develop a digital video that emphasizes the special connection people have with their vehicles and challenges students to ask themselves whether this is their calling. The video will be syndicated across the Web (with a main channel at www.youtube.com/bendixbrakesvideos) and pushed out to bloggers and enthusiast sites as well as linked to via other social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.
The video will ultimately drive viewers to www.bendixpassion.com, where people can enter the contest by filling out an entry form and responding to the following three questions:
1. What makes you passionate about cars?
2. Why do you want to enter the field of automotive maintenance?
3. Why is attending a CareerTech School so important to you?
The entrants’ responses will be judged by a panel of industry peers, including editors from leading trade publications, Tomorrow’s Technician and Motor Age as well as a specially selected national career tech school teacher. The winners will be announced in January 2010. The contest’s full rules and regulations can be found at www.bendixpassion.com.
“Over the past few decades, there has been increasing concern over the perceived shortage of automotive service technicians. And this is not something to be taken lightly – particularly when a large number of ‘baby boomers’ will retire in the near future,” said Kelley. “Our 2009 Passion That Drives You scholarship program was designed to help financially support some of the young men and women who are interested in automotive careers, but may not have the money to achieve their dreams.”
