RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Applications are now being accepted online for the 2011 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarship, awarded to students planning automotive aftermarket careers. The application process is now entirely electronic through the GAAS scholarship website, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com.
The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 31, 2011.
The scholarships are available to students in two-year technical college programs and vocational schools and four-year college programs. To receive 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 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 GAAS website, students will be considered for GAAS scholarships, plus scholarships from a number of industry partners.
In 2010, a total of 136 students were awarded 155 scholarships by the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship fund, its contributors and other groups collaborating with the GAAS Scholarship website.
Individual scholarships ranged from $250 to $3,000, and, in total, $158,000 was awarded. In its 15-year history, the fund has presented more than $1.5 million in awards to more than 1,500 students.
“We are well on our way to becoming a one-stop shop for students seeking automotive scholarships, as evidenced by the number of students receiving multiple awards from GAAS and its partners,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. “In 2010, 19 students who submitted online applications were selected for multiple awards, 18 students received $2,000 or more in awards, and one student received a total of $3,000.”
Ninety-four GAAS scholarships were awarded in 2010, including eight awards to students in Canada. The annual investment to develop future automotive aftermarket industry leaders is funded through proceeds from the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, donations from individual donors and funding from:
• Breslow Foundation
• Gates Corp.
• Leadership Development Network
• Michael Busch Memorial Fund
• R.L. Polk
• Standard Motor Products
• U of A Foundation
• Zurich
An additional 61 scholarships were awarded by the following organizations:
• Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT)
• Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (AAAS)
• Automotive Parts & Services Association (APSA)
• Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois (APSA of IL)
• Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS)
• California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA)
• Kentucky / Indiana Automotive Wholesalers Association (KIAWA)
• Michigan Automotive Parts Association (MAPA)
• New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA)
• Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association (OVAAA)
Other collaborating groups for 2011 include:
• Wisconsin Automotive Part Association (WAPA)
• Women’s Car Care Council (WB)
Each of these other collaborating groups has their own criteria and selects their own recipients for their scholarships.
Just last week, the California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) announced that it has awarded scholarships to 10 students for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Along with Vince Contorno, Annapolis, Calif., the recipient of the Mort Schwartz Award, CAWA scholarship winners include:
• Lee Esten, Burbank, Calif.
• Cortney Zellman, Citrus Heights, Calif.
• Dillon Bown, Glendale, Ariz.
• Steven Leach, Grass Valley, Calif.
• Raymond Pauly, Hayward, Calif.
• Alvaro Gallego, Jr., Rio Rico, Ariz.
• Larry Shields, Las Vegas, Nev.
• Kevin Carone, San Ramon, Calif.
• Stephen Stegall, Auburn, Calif.
In addition, the New York State Automotive Aftermarket Association (NYSAAA) has awarded two students $1,500 scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year.
The recipients are Mathew Mercadante of Delhi, N.Y., and Nicholas Woodarek of Allegany, N.Y.
The Association of Diesel Specialists (ADS) has awarded $11,000 in scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year to students in diesel training programs at institutions participating in the association’s "TechSmart" program.
Eleven students received $1,000 scholarships from the ADS / Henry and Esther Ortner Educational Foundation:
• Justin Davenport, Whitewright, Texas
• Bryan Eaton, Amesbury, Mass.
• Tyler Fall, Montrose, Mich.
• Brett Fruechte, Little Falls, Minn.
• Brandon Johnson, Williamsburg, Ind.
• Tyler Jones, Lafayette, Ind.
• Brandon Ohlemacher, Sandusky, Ohio
• Jeremy Raney, Kearney, Mo.
• Joshua Spackman, Richland, Mich.
• Daniel Stevens, Laramie, Wyo.
• Nicholas Weibel, Elba, N.Y.
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].
The annual two-day Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket and influencing its future. GAAS 2011 will be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 18-19, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago.
