Applications are now being accepted online for the 2012
Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium
(GAAS) scholarship, awarded to students planning
automotive aftermarket careers. The application process
is now entirely electronic through the GAAS scholarship
Web site, www.AutomotiveScholarships.com.
The deadline to apply is Saturday, March 31,
2012.
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
Web site, students will be considered for GAAS
scholarships, plus scholarships from a number of
industry partners.
GAAS recently presented 99 U.S. and eight Canadian
scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year. In its 16
-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 completing applications at the
GAAS scholarship Web site,
www.AutomotiveScholarships.com,” said Pete Kornafel
chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee.
“In 2011, we had more than 500 completed applications,
which far exceeded our total for 2010.”
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Collaborative efforts with state associations and other
automotive groups include:
-
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 & Services Association
(APSA)
vAutomotive 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)
- New York State Automotive Aftermarket
Association (NYSAAA)
- Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket
Association (OVAAA)
- Wisconsin Automotive Part Association (WAPA)
And, these foundations and organizations collaborate
with GAAS to award scholarships:
- Automotive Communication Council
- Breslow Foundation
- Gates Corporation
- Larry McCurdy Memorial Fund
- Leadership Development Network
- Michael Busch Memorial Fund
- Mitchell 1
- Multi Parts Supply
- Polk
- Standard Motor Products
- Women’s Car Care Council (WB)
Each of these other collaborating groups has their own
criteria and selects their own recipients for their
scholarships.
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
2012 will be held Wednesday, May 16, and Thursday, May
17, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago.
For more information, visit www.globalsymposium.org.
