T-TEN Students Earn Statewide Grants
Two Automotive Technology T-TEN students received awards from the California New Car Dealers Association Scholarship Foundation this month. This year’s annual “Car Careers” Scholarship program selected 20 total grant recipients and one overall statewide winner, a Cypress College student, to receive an additional $5,000.
Molly Poer, a Year 1 T-TEN student, received $5,000 from the organization. Vincent Lagasca, a Year 2 T-TEN student, who was awarded the Peter K Welch Honorary Scholarship, was granted $10,000.
“There’s something fulfilling about tightening the final bolt on a project – a sense of accomplishment that I haven’t found anywhere else,” Poer said in a press release. “Being an unconventional student, who has already completed previous degrees, worked in a different field, and yet still wants to grow my skill set to transition to a vastly different career, I know that I don’t fit the mold of a traditional technician… I want to be able to give people, men and women alike, the peace of mind that their vehicle is in the hands of someone who cares.”
The CNCDA scholarship program provided more than $100,000 to students in automotive technology programs. The organization awarded grants to applicants based on academic performance, career interests, and industry experience, according to a press release.
The Foundation Board selected the top four candidates from five regions across the state, who were each awarded $5,000 to cover education and training expenses. From these 20 grant recipients, Vincent Lagasca was selected as the overall statewide winner, receiving an additional $5,000 for the Peter K. Welch Honorary Scholarship.
“We were very impressed with the students who applied for this scholarship program and are proud to be able to support them as they pursue promising careers in the auto tech industry,” Brian Maas, CNCDA President and CNCDA Scholarship Foundation vice president, said.
The CAR CAREERS Scholarship will be offered again in 2022 and information on program specifics and the application process can be found here.
