GAAS Scholarships Awarded to 133 Students in 2006

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- The Global Automotive Aftermarket Scholarship Committee (GAAS) awarded 133 $1,000 scholarships to students in 2006, several of which were made possible with the support of additional donations to the fund.

"The GAAS scholarship committee selected 118 students from the United States and 15 from Canada from more than 1,000 applications, and the quality of our applicants was higher than ever," said Pete Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee. Seven of these scholarships were made possible due to the generous support of R.L. Polk & Co. and the University of the Aftermarket’s Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund."

"The record number of applicants this year demonstrates the importance of the GAAS scholarship program," Kornafel noted. "Students interested in pursuing aftermarket careers know about our scholarships, and are seeking its support for their future. The industry is strongly encouraged to contribute even greater resources toward the program to assure a strong talent pool for our future," he added.

To be eligible for 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 also is unique in that recipients who graduate from their program and show proof of employment as a technician in the automotive aftermarket for at least six months after graduation can receive a second matching grant

GAAS Scholarship applications for 2007 will be available Friday, Sept. 1, online at www.automotivescholarships.com . Deadline for 2007 scholarship applications is Friday, March 30, 2007.

The annual investment to help develop future aftermarket industry leaders is primarily funded through proceeds from the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. This two-day program brings together numerous industry executives and examines the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket industry and influencing its future. GAAS has become the aftermarket’s premier educational conference. The 2007 event is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 8-9, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.

Additional funding comes from contributions. Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at 301-654-6664.