SEMA Awards Record Amount of Scholarships
DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (July 17, 2002) - SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, has awarded an unprecedented total of $80,000 to college students to further their education toward careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. Each of the record-number 60 scholarship winners will receive as much as $2,000 from the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund. "We are pleased to reward these outstanding students for their educational accomplishments," said Mike Spagnola, SEMA Scholarship Committee chairman and president/CEO of Street Scene Equipment, Costa Mesa, Calif. "The scholarship committee is happy to support their hard work toward careers in the automotive aftermarket." The program awards scholarships at two eligibility levels, according to Dr. Ken Pyle, SEMA's director of educational services. Students currently enrolled in a four-year degree or graduate level program at an accredited college or university who have completed a minimum of 60 hours credit or have been classified as a junior or senior at the time of scholarship application are eligible for awards of $1,000 or more. Students currently enrolled in a two- year community college or proprietary vocational-technical program who have completed a minimum of 30 hours credit or have been classified as a sophomore are eligible for awards of $1,000. All applicants must meet the requirements of a 2.0 grade-point average minimum, demonstrate financial need equal to or exceeding the amount of the award, and be pursuing a course of study leading to a career in the automotive aftermarket or related field. This year, nine scholarships were awarded to qualified applicant children or employees of SEMA-member companies, through a special designation of up to 20 percent from this category. Since it was founded in 1984, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund has assisted nearly 300 students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket. The amount of scholarships awarded varies each year. The program, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is funded through donations and fundraisers including the SEMA Businesswomen's Network Silent Auction held during the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The 2002 SEMA awards went to students from 18 states who will attend 33 colleges, universities and technical schools this coming year. Winners from the four-year or graduate eligibility level who will receive $2,000: Kristine Baumgard, Millington, Mich., career objective, Mechanical Engineering, to attend Kettering University, Flint, Mich.; Matthew Boffo, Titusville, Fla., Automotive Aftermarket Management, Northwood University, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Brian Chamberlin, Yorba Linda, Calif., MBA studies, Concordia University, Irvine, Calif.; Kristel Coronado, Lake Orion, Mich., Mechanical Engineering, Kettering University, Flint; Ryan Deschenes, Yorba Linda, Mechanical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine; Monica Fulton, Mission Viejo, Calif., Communications, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.; Tami Gallo, Carbondale, Pa., Sociology, Penn State Scranton, Dunmore, Pa.; Patrick Hill, Daytona Beach, Fla., Liberal Studies, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.; Victoria Kerszykowski, Casco, Mich., Business Management/Finance, Northwood University, Midland, Mich.; Amy Kopin, Ann Arbor, Mich., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Jeremy Maxwell, Crestone, Colo., Automotive Industry Management, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo, Colo.; Shawn Miloian, Troy, Mich., Mechanical Engineering/Automotive Powertrain, Kettering University, Flint; Timothy Moberg, Riverside, Calif., Automotive Technology, University of California, Riverside; Tracy Noe, Germantown, Tenn., Business Administration/Finance, Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tenn.; Josh Pendolphia, West Pittson, Pa., Communications/Marketing, Wilkes University, Wilkes Barre, Pa.; Heidi Reinhardt, Colorado Springs, Colo., Automotive Industry Management, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo; Joshua Scheffler, Norfolk, Neb., Mechanical Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.; Kimberly Trudel, Upland, Calif., Economics (MA degree), Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, Calif.; Kimberly Wahl, Burt, Mich., Industrial Technology, Baker College Graduate Studies, Flint; Joshua West, Thousand Oaks, Calif., Mechanical Engineering, Moorpark College, Moorpark, Calif. Winners from the four-year or graduate eligibility level who will receive $1,000: James Abraham, Highland, Mich., Auto Aftermarket Management, Northwood University, West Palm Beach; Nicholas Bell, Clemson, S.C., Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson; Stephen Berger, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Mechanical Engineering, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo; Brandon Bunker, West Palm Beach, Automotive Aftermarket Management, Northwood University, West Palm Beach; Jennifer Burkhardt, Bronson, Mich., Automotive Aftermarket Management, Northwood University, Midland; Jason Carney, Nashville, Tenn., Mechanical Engineering, Tennessee State University, Nashville; Dean Ellis, Iron Mountain, Mich., Auto Body, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mich.; Cary Henry, Tallahassee, Fla., Mechanical Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee; John Kernen, Pueblo, Automotive Industry Management, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo; Raymond Kondel, Gaines, Mich., Automotive Engineering, Ferris State University, Big Rapids; Shawn McGill, Lima, Ohio, High Performance/Motorsports, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Tim McKinley, Leesburg, Ind., High Performance/Auto Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Craig Musolino, Nags Head, N.C., Automotive Aftermarket Management, Northwood University, West Palm Beach; Philip Rael, Santa Fe, N.M., Business Administration/Operations Management, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.; Justin Simonson, Pueblo West, Colo., Automotive Industry Management, University of Southern Colorado, Pueblo; Cameron Sowa, Fairview Park, Ohio, Computer Science/Management, Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio; Michael Tetrick, Bakersfield, Calif., Management Information Systems, California State University, Bakersfield; David Torres, Berwyn, Ill., Automotive Technology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Ill.; James Walsh, Vail, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.; Sean Whitney, Boise, Idaho, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Winners from the two-year or technical program eligibility level who will receive $1,000: Teresa Aldridge, Lacy Lakeview, Texas, Automotive Technology, Texas State College, Waco, Texas; Douglas Bannerman, Laramie, Wyo., Collision Refinishing, Wyoming Technical Institute, Laramie; Timothy Belt, Springfield, Ohio, Auto/Diesel (Assoc. Degree), University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Downer Boley, Fleming, Ohio, Automotive/High Performance, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Joshua Bowers, New Lexington, Ohio, Auto/Diesel Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Lorine Cleveland, Onalaska, Wash., Collision Repair, Portland Community College, Portland, Ore.; Kari Davis, Van Meter, Iowa, Diesel Technology, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa; Michael Dietrich, West Warwick, Pa., New England Institute of Technology, Warwick, R.I.; Justin Dingman, Lebanon, Ohio, Diesel Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Jerry Donnelly, Moreno Valley, Calif., Collision Repair, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino; Dennis Flory, San Bernardino, Automotive Technology (A/S degree), San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino; Matthew Hotter, Bloomington, Calif., Automotive Technology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino; David Lam, Highland, Calif., Collision Repair, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino; Harry Morgan III, Tarrs, Pa., Diesel Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Brent Neupert, Cabot, Pa., Diesel Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Maryann Ramirez, Riverside, Automotive Technology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino; Brian Seckel, Galion, Ohio, Diesel/Agriculture Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Brian Swank, Troy, Ohio, Diesel/Agriculture Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Brandon Voet, Burlington, Ky., Diesel/Agriculture Equipment, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima; Danny Wood, Cardington, Ohio, Diesel Technology, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima. SEMA represents the $26 billion specialty automotive industry. The trade association has approximately 4,500 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396- 0289; or visit <www.sema.org> or <www.enjoythedrive.com>.