RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — The Michigan Automotive Parts Association (MAPA) has awarded scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Three students received $1,000 MAPA Educational Development Scholarship Fund awards:

• Renee Kucher, Freeland, Mich. Renee is majoring in pre-veterinarian at Saginaw Valley State University and currently holds a 4.0 grade point average.
• Shelby Kenyon, Middleville, Mich. Shelby is majoring in business marketing at DePaul University and currently holds a 3.64 grade point average.
• Hannah Schmidt, Pinconning, Mich. Hannah is majoring in chemistry at Saginaw Valley State University and currently holds a 3.75 grade point average.

Applicants for MAPA 2010-2011 scholarships were taken through the automotive scholarship website.

"The Michigan Automotive Parts Association congratulates our three scholarship winners and wishes them success in the 2010-2011 school year," said Debbie Cook, executive director, MAPA. "We are pleased to present awards to these well-qualified applicants, which we received through the GAAS website."

"The recipients MAPA selected are representative of the 375 candidates who applied through our online application site this year," said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. "Through the support of MAPA and other regional associations, and the generous donations to the GAAS scholarship fund, we are able to assist these students in their pursuit of their future careers."

Along with MAPA, collaborative efforts with state associations and other automotive groups include:

• Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT)
• Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (AAAS)
• Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS)
• 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)
• New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA)
• Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association (OVAAA)
• Wisconsin Automotive Part Association (WAPA)

Each of these other collaborating groups has their own criteria and selects their own recipients for their scholarships.

The GAAS Scholarship Committee recently announced that it is presenting awards to 86 U.S. students for the 2010-2011 academic year. In its 15-year history, the fund has presented awards to more than 1,500 students.

Additional scholarship funding comes from industry contributions from 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].