This industry association cooperation will allow students interested in aftermarket careers to submit one application for 2008 scholarships online at www.automotivescholarships.org and receive consideration for the following scholarships:
Association of Diesel Specialist (ADS), Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (AAACT), Automotive Parts & Service Alliance (APSA), the Breslow Foundation, California/Nevada Automotive Wholesalers’ Association (CAWA) and Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS). Applicants must meet the individual scholarship qualifications to be considered.

“We are extremely pleased to have OVAAA join GAAS in offering scholarships to students interested in automotive aftermarket careers. Their participation will allow this effort to help even more students,” said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee.

“The collaboration between OVAAA and GAAS is a great benefit to students, giving them the ability to further their educational opportunities,” said Gary Murdock, president of OVAAA. “We are excited to join with these fine organizations of our industry to offer these scholarships for our youth.”

The GAAS scholarship program awarded 142 scholarships in 2007. Including this year’s awards, GAAS has presented more than 1,300 scholarships and more than $1.3 million since it was formed. Details about the GAAS scholarship program are available at www.automotivescholarships.com. Over its 13-year history, the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) has become the premier industry conference for senior-level aftermarket executives. All of the net proceeds from the event go toward funding industry scholarships. The 2008 event is slated for Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago. Speakers and registration details will be available soon at www.globalsymposium.org.

The GAAS program is a joint professional education effort of the Alliance of State Automotive Aftermarket Associations (ASAAA), Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA), Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada, Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA), Automotive Service Association (ASA), Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA), Motorist Assurance Program (MAP), Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), Tire Industry Association (TIA) and University of the Aftermarket.