The current grand total for the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarships awards in 2014 is $288,000, with eight collaborating associations still finalizing their selections.
“Proceeds from the Symposium are used to fund scholarships, cover the administrative and website expenses for GAAS, UAF and all organizations that draw from the online applications at AutomotiveScholarships.com for their awards,” said Dennis Welvaert, GAAS chairman. “In addition, GAAS proceeds fund a second, matching award for scholarship recipients who graduate and hold employment as a technician in the aftermarket for at least six months.”
“Six of the 256 awards to date were funded through generous donations received during GAAS,” noted Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Committee. “The committee extends its thanks to more than a dozen donors for their investment in the future of the aftermarket.”
Each of these 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:
- Brandon Edgecomb of Burlington, Kan.
- Matthew Fusco of White Lake, Mich.
- Anthony Gerber of Bedford, Pa.
- Brodie Hawkins of Randolph, N.Y.
- Tyler St. Clair of Newton, Ill.
- Armoni Stephens of Lexington, Ky.
