RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – Thanks to a grant from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, 50 students pursuing automotive aftermarket careers will receive Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarships.
“The University of the Aftermarket Foundation is proud to provide grants to these 50 worthy recipients this year,” said Rusty Bishop, chief executive officer of Federated Auto Parts Distributors and chairman of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. “These students represent the future of the automotive aftermarket, and we are pleased to assist them in the pursuit of their careers.”
The scholarship winners will receive a $1,000 scholarship to advance their education, either at two-year vocational / technical colleges or four-year colleges and universities. All of these students are either attending or entering vocational programs to become mechanical, collision, or heavy duty repair professionals. This year’s recipients are:
Nicholas Berkey, Cairnbrook, Pa.
Candace Boggs, Columbus, Ohio
Francois Bougeant, Bloomfield, N.M.
Shannon Carroll, Montgomery Village, Md.
Brian Cassin, Warrenville, Ill.
Victoria Castano, Tewksbury, Mass.
Riley Cokl, South Whitley, Ind.
Caitlinn Courney, New Carlisle, Ohio
John Cramer, Thermopolis, Wyo.
Justin Edson, Blue Springs, Mo.
Alexander Elia, Buffalo, N.Y.
Koltin Ellis, Chandler, Ind.
Daniel Garay, Richmond, Texas
Oakley Graham, Viburnum, Mo.
Michael Gremillion, Glendale Heights, Ill.
Zachary Gullion, Vienna, Md.
Richard Halsey, Libby, Mont.
Karen Havey, Boise, Idaho
Austin Hemesath, New Hampton, Iowa
Dave Hippo III, Levittown, Pa.
Spencer Hitchcock, Hays, Kansas
Leighton Hochgesang, Jasper, Ind.
Dayna Jean, Tewksbury, Mass.
Willis Jett V, Gallatin, Tenn.
Jeremy Johnson, Bucyrus, Ohio
Conner Kavanagh, Richwood, Ohio
Kevin Krutell, St. Claire Shores, Mich.
Benjamin Kuhn, Galena, Ill.
Thomas Kujawski, Lackawanna, N.Y.
Brandon Larkin, Tomahawk, Wis.
Elizabeth Moore, Houston, Texas
Adam Mowery, Middleburg, Pa.
Ryan O’Dette, Quinnesec, Mich.
Kenneth Peluso, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Gregory Rasberry, Trenton, Tenn.
Evan Reinert, Versailles, Mo.
John Reuter, Fort Jones, Calif.
Kendall Riecken, Fort Wayne, Ind.
David Ross, Houston, Texas
Brady Ruediger, Hermann, Mo.
Rebekah Shadowens, Waco, Texas
Jonathon Sorrell, Dunkirk, Ohio
Todd Stromberg, Culbertson, Mont.
Jasmine Swafford, Jacksonville, Ark.
Jesica Thornton, Manhattan, Kansas
Spencer Wagner, Mifflinburg, Pa.
Jacob Wells, Meshoppen, Pa.
James Whipple, Harrison, Idaho
Bradley Wilkie, Bloomington, Minn.
John Wright, Houston, Texas
For more information on the GAAS scholarship program, visit www.AutomotiveScholarships.com.
About the University of the Aftermarket Foundation
Since 1986, the University of the Aftermarket Foundation (formerly the AWDA University Foundation) has provided funding for aftermarket educational programs and research. Through its grant program, the Foundation and its donors ensure that education has a positive, stabilizing influence on the future of the aftermarket. The Foundation reached a milestone during the fourth quarter of 2006 by surpassing $5 million in donations during its ongoing endowment campaign. For more information about the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, call 816-584-0511.
