For immediate release
September 8, 2008
GAAS PR 01-09

For more information, contact:
Emily McConnell, AASA
919-406-8828
media@mema.org

Online Applications Available Now for 2009 GAAS Scholarships; Deadline Is March 31

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – Applications are now being accepted online for the 2009 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) scholarship, awarded to students planning automotive aftermarket careers. The application process is now entirely electronic through the GAAS scholarship Web site, www.automotivescholarships.com.

The deadline to apply is Monday, March 31, 2009.

The scholarships are available to students in two-year technical college programs and vocational schools and four-year college programs. To receive a GAAS scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time in a college-level program or a NATEF (National Automotive Technician Education Foundation) accredited automotive technical program. Graduate programs and part-time undergraduate programs do not qualify.

The GAAS scholarship is unique in that technician recipients can receive two financial grants: one while in school to assist with tuition and an equivalent grant awarded to scholarship recipients who graduate from their program and show proof of post-graduation employment as a technician in the automotive aftermarket for at least six months.

By completing a single online application at the GAAS Web site, students will be considered for GAAS scholarships, plus scholarships from a number of industry partners.

In 2008, a total of 150 students were awarded 170 scholarships by the GAAS scholarship fund, its contributors and other groups collaborating with GAAS. Individual scholarships ranged from $250 to $2,000, and, in total, more than $165,000 was awarded. In its 14-year history, the fund has presented more than $1.4 million in awards to approximately 1,400 students.

115 GAAS scholarships were awarded in 2008, including 10 awards received by students from Canada. The annual investment to develop future automotive aftermarket industry leaders is funded through proceeds from the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. Additional funding comes from:

• Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Automotive Communications Council Scholarships (ACC)
• ASC Industries Inc.
• ASE / Michael Busch Memorial Scholarships
• Breslow Foundation Scholarships
• Leadership Development Network of AAIA (LDN)
• R.L. Polk & Co.
• Udell Family Charitable Foundation
• University of the Aftermarket Foundation
• Zurich

An additional 55 scholarships were awarded by the following organizations:

• AAACT – Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Carolinas and Tennessee (regional association for residents of North and South Carolina and Tennessee)
• AAAS – Automotive Aftermarket Association Southeast (regional association for residents of Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi)
• ADS - Association of Diesel Specialists
• APSA – Automotive Parts & Services Association (regional association for residents of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming)
• APSA of IL – Automotive Parts and Service Association of Illinois (regional association for residents of Illinois)
• CAWA – California/Arizona/Nevada Automotive Wholesaler’s Association (regional association for residents of Arizona, California and Nevada)
• OVAAA - Ohio Valley Automotive Aftermarket Association (regional association for residents of Ohio and West Virginia)

Additional scholarship funding comes from industry contributions from individuals, companies and foundations. Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at 301-654-6664, or susan.medick@aftermarket.org.

About the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium

The annual two-day Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium brings together industry leaders and experts to examine the issues and trends affecting the automotive aftermarket and influencing its future. The 2009 event is set for Wednesday and Thursday, May 6-7, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago, Ill. Details are at www.globalsymposium.org.

About the GAAS Scholarship Program

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 Rebuilders 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.