Eighty-Six GAAS Scholarships Presented; Challenge Issued to Match Scholarship Fund Donations

GAAS Scholarship Chair Pete Kornafel has issued an industry challenge: he and his wife, Annie, will match 100 percent of each donation to the GAAS Scholarship Fund received before Wednesday, June 30, up to $15,000 in total. Each donation of $1,000 or more will receive a 2010 scholarship named in that person's honor.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – At the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) on May 18, Peter Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee, announced that 86 U.S. applicants will receive scholarships this year through the fund and generous donations from supporters.

Of the 86 recipients, 80 percent (69) of the awards went to students training as technicians, and 20 percent were awarded to students majoring in business or engineering.

Kornafel also issued an industry challenge: he and his wife, Annie, will match 100 percent of each donation to the GAAS Scholarship Fund received before Wednesday, June 30, up to $15,000 in total. Each donation of $1,000 or more will receive a 2010 scholarship named in that person’s honor.

"The 2010 class of scholarship applicants is outstanding – some of the strongest candidates we have received. But, we could only award 86 scholarships, a difficult choice from a field of 375 applications," said Kornafel. "That is why Annie and I have issued our challenge again this year, to urge all aftermarket partners to support the GAAS Scholarship Fund and help more talented students further their education."

Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at 301-654-6664, or [email protected].

For 2010, additional funding has been pledged by:
• Breslow Foundation
• Gates Corp.
• Leadership Development Network at AAIA
• Michael Busch Memorial Fund
• R.L. Polk
• SAE Warehouse, Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Standard Motor Products
• University of the Aftermarket Foundation

Additional scholarship will be presented through collaborative efforts with these associations:
• 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)
• Arizona/California/Nevada Automotive Wholesaler’s 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)

The list of the 2010 scholarship winners will be available soon at the GAAS scholarship website, www.automotivescholarships.com.