RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee is awarding 59 scholarships to U.S. students pursuing aftermarket careers in 2009. Donations of more than $10,000 were received at the 2009 Symposium, which will fund a second round of awards soon.
The $1,000 and $2,000 scholarships will be granted to 59 students in the United States, 54 GAAS $1,000 award recipients and five recipients of the Breslow Foundation $2,000 scholarships. Awards given to Canadian students will be announced in June.
In the history of the scholarship program, more than 1,400 students have received aid totaling approximately $1.4 million.
“Even in this time of economic difficulty, GAAS continues to ensure a strong future talent pool for automotive aftermarket companies and service outlets,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman, GAAS Scholarship Committee. “With the support of the GAAS proceeds and additional donations, we have the opportunity to help these well-qualified, deserving students reach their goal of pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket,” he added.
The GAAS scholarships are funded through proceeds from the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. This year’s scholarships include those funded through the donations and grants from:
• AAIA Leadership Development Network
• Michael Busch Memorial Fund
• Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Pete and Lorraine Kornafel
• Multi-Parts Supply
• RL Polk
• Kathleen Schmatz
• Udell Family Foundation
• University of the Aftermarket Foundation
• Zurich
“Our efforts to increase collaboration with other automotive and aftermarket groups resulted in a near record number of applications this year at the GAAS scholarship Web site from students seeking automotive scholarships,” Kornafel said. “By working together, we are benefiting the students who can submit one application and be considered for multiple scholarships,” he added.
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)
• 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)
Each of these other collaborating groups has their own criteria and selects their own recipients for their scholarships.
To be eligible for 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 those recipients who graduate from their program and show proof of employment as technicians in the automotive aftermarket for at least six months after graduation can receive a second matching award.
GAAS Scholarship applications for 2010 will be available online at www.automotivescholarships.com beginning in September 2009. The deadline for submitting 2010 scholarship applications is March 31, 2010.
