Applications for automotive
scholarships are now available through the 2013 SEMA Memorial
Scholarship Fund (SMSF) at www.sema.org/scholarships. Students preparing for careers in the auto or auto parts industries may be eligible for financial awards of up to $5,000.
The $5,000 Top Student award marks an increase from the award’s previous
amount of $4,000. Similarly, scholarships for students attending
four-year programs have been increased from $2,000 to $3,000, and awards
for students attending two-year programs were increased from $1,000 to
$2,000.
“Students coming through the SEMA Scholarship Program have demonstrated
such great potential. We’ve increased the scholarship prizes to reward
and better help prepare these students for careers in the specialty
equipment industry,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA education director. “Our
hope is that we’ll continue to attract highly qualified students who
will contribute and make strong, positive impacts in our industry.”
Unlike financial aid and student loans, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship is
a one-time award that does not have to be paid back. Awards are granted
to eligible applicants based on academic achievements, work experience,
community involvement, essay content and recommendations. Students may
re-apply each year, provided that they still meet the eligibility
criteria.
A loan forgiveness award also is available to recent graduates who are
working for SEMA-member companies and paying off existing student loans.
Details and applications for both the scholarship and the
loan-forgiveness awards are available at www.sema.org/scholarships. The application deadline for all SMSF awards is March 29.