RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Applications are now being accepted online for the 2015 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarships, University of the Aftermarket (UAF) Scholarships and other awards from collaborating organizations. Applications are submitted online at the scholarship website, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 31, 2015.
The scholarships are available to students in two-year technical college programs and vocational schools and four-year college programs. To receive a GAAS or UAF scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time in a college-level program or an ASE- and NATEF-certified automotive, collision or heavy-duty/diesel technical program. Graduate programs and part-time undergraduate programs do not qualify.
The GAAS and UAF scholarships are 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 scholarship website, students will be considered for GAAS and UAF scholarships, plus scholarships from a number of industry partners.
In 2014, a total of 289 scholarships were awarded by the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship fund, the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF) and other groups collaborating with the scholarship website. Individual scholarships ranged from $250 to $5,000. In its 19-year history, the fund has presented more than $1.8 million in awards to more than 1,800 students.
“We especially thank the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, which funded 137 awards in 2014,” said Pete Kornafel chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. “In 2014, more than 600 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 and Service 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)
* Midwest Automotive Parts and Service Association (MAPSA)
* Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS)
* North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Education Foundation
* New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA)
* Wisconsin Automotive Part Association (WAPA)
The following foundations and organizations also collaborate with GAAS and UAF to award scholarships:
* Auto Care Association
* Automotive Communication Council
* Breslow Foundation
* Dayco
* Gates Corp.
* Larry McCurdy Memorial Fund
* Michael Busch Memorial Fund
* Mitchell 1
* Multi Parts Supply
* National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)
* Polk
* Standard Motor Products
* Stant Corp.
* University of the Aftermarket Foundation
* 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 Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at the Auto Care Association, at 301-654-6664, or [email protected].
