TROY, MI — In an economy like this, who’s going to turn down free money…especially if those dollars will help build a well-paying career with a shortage of qualified workers?
This month and next, candidates interested in a career in automotive technology or repair will be able to vie for scholarships from the Bendix® team yet again in the brand’s second The Passion that Drives You® scholarship contest.
And to add to the excitement, the Bendix team is including a chance to earn a Grand Prize trip for two to a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) race in 2011.
“Nearly 500 applicants entered to win one of eight $2,500 scholarships in our first official The Passion That Drives You scholarship campaign,” said Jim Kelley, Director of Sales, North America for Friction Materials LLC.
“We’re passionate about the automotive industry and want to foster that enthusiasm in future technicians. It can be challenging for students to fund their educations, so we’re pleased to offer $20,000 in scholarship monies again this year to help them pursue a career in this field.”
From Oct. 4 – Nov. 30, 2010, U.S. residents 18 years and older who are interested in pursuing a career in automotive technology can enter The Passion That Drives You scholarship contest from the Bendix Brakes team online at www.bendixpassion.com. Entrants will be asked to complete an online form, upload a photo that showcases their passion for the industry and respond to an essay question regarding their passion for automobiles.
The Bendix team has developed a digital video to build awareness for the scholarship program and to drive applicants to www.bendixpassion.com. William Knight, 28, one of last year’s winners will be featured in this year’s video as he attends NASCAR Tech in Mooresville, NC.
Knight, like many, is interested in pursuing a career in the motorsports tuning arena and the video speaks directly to those who want to take this path, though the contest is open to anyone entering automotive maintenance.
The video will be shared with tech schools, bloggers and enthusiast websites as well as through various social media networks. The video also will be housed on Bendix Brakes’ YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/bendixbrakesvideos).
At the contest conclusion, a panel of qualified, independent judges will select the eight final entrants based on the highest scoring written entries.
One of the eight scholarship winners will also win a Grand Prize trip for two to an NHRA race in 2011. The judging for this will take place in two parts. Open voting on www.bendixpassion.com will allow entrants’ friends and families to vote for them and they will be awarded extra points based on vote totals. In addition, judges will award points on the ability of the final entrants to demonstrate through their essay response on why they are passionate about entering the field of automotive technology.
Public voting will begin on October 4, 2010 and run through December 15, 2010. The winners will be announced in January 2011. The contest’s full rules and regulations can be found at www.bendixpassion.com.
As a leader in braking technology since 1924, the Bendix brand continues to be recognized around the world for quality, performance and value. The brand has a proven track record of supplying premium products to its customers. Automakers have come to rely on the Bendix team for innovative, application-specific solutions, and technicians in the aftermarket appreciate the quality product and attention to detail that can only come from a global OE and aftermarket supplier.