LAS VEGAS – Pete Kornafel, chairman of Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Committee, led a news conference on the 2015 automotive scholarship program at the AASA Members Center in the Sands Expo.
In 2015, Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), University of the Aftermarket Foundation (UAF), donors, and participating organizations awarded 370 scholarships totaling $405,450, including 67 GAAS awards 211 UAF awards, and 85 awards funded directly by collaborating organizations. 80 percent of the recipients are in or entering post-secondary programs to become technicians in automotive mechanical, collision or HD/Diesel programs.
The majority of applicants in 2015 and previous years were encouraged to apply by their teachers and professors, and, as Kornafel stressed, that is a limited pool of potential scholarship winners. Kornafel spoke to the need for families in the automotive industry to encourage their children (who are also seeking careers in the industry) to apply for the scholarships. With multiple types of awards, many students are missing out on opportunities for financial aid.
Kornafel also emphasized the convenience of the application process—students can win multiple scholarships through a single application via Automotive Aftermarket Scholarships Central. For example, Perla Veroz, who is attending Ferris State University and majoring in Automotive Engineering Technology, was awarded with three scholarships totaling $8,250.
Looking to the future, Kornafel hopes to attract more applicants through the help of organizations and donors and to support the learning process for automotive students all the way through by creating scholarships for internships.
To learn more about the automotive aftermarket scholarship program, visit Automotive Aftermarket Scholarships Central.
