Icahn Automotive, which owns and operates repair and maintenance providers Pep Boys, AAMCO and Precision Tune Auto Care, announced the 15 recipients of its $2500 “Find Your Drive” scholarships. The second annual scholarship program is part of Icahn Automotive’s “Race to 2026” initiative that aims to increase the number of trained automotive technicians across the U.S. and help fill an industry-wide talent gap projected to grow to 46,000 over the next six years.
“Our scholarship program celebrates students who are driven to pursue automotive service as a profession and helps them reach their potential,” said Brian Kaner, CEO – Service. “The skills gap still exists in the U.S. and we’re passionate about using our programs to show talented, motivated students how fulfilling a technical career can be.”
Students receiving scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year are:
- Kevin Alvarenga, Mooresville, NC, NASCAR Technical Institute
- Savannah Arias, Tustin, CA, Saddleback Community College
- Justin Benson, Swedesboro, NJ, Lincoln Tech
- Christopher Floyan, Pleasant Valley, NY, Lincoln Tech
- Maverick Ellington, New Richmond, OH, NASCAR Technical Institute
- Jake Maha, Sayreville, NJ, SUNY Morrisville
- Michael Marelli, Florham Park, NJ, Universal Technical Institute
- Dylan Muench, Perryville, MO, State Technical College of Missouri
- Catherine Nelson, Philadelphia, PA, Lincoln Tech
- Michael Nyce, Middlesex, NJ, Universal Technical Institute
- Leonel Palacios, Union, NJ, Lincoln Tech
- Ramon Perez, Mahwah, NJ, Lincoln Tech
- Nelson Ruiz, Dingmans Ferry, PA, Lincoln Tech
- Ryan Schweizer, Rockaway, NJ, Universal Technical Institute
- Aaron Young, Vernal, UT, Utah Valley University
Each scholarship winner is pursuing an automotive technician degree or certification. All applicants were required to meet certain academic requirements and to provide written or video essays describing “Why I want to be a top technician,” as well as two letters of recommendation. Winners were selected by the Icahn Automotive scholarship committee. The program is designed to award 12 scholarships annually but because several applicants’ scores tied, the committee increased the awards to 15, or $37,500 in total scholarships, for the 2020-2021 academic year.