GAAS Selection Committee Chairman Pete Kornafel, who is also vice chairman of CARQUEST, said the group has awarded more that 1,300 scholarships over the past 12 years.  GAAS is accepting applications through March 31 for more than 100 GAAS scholarships that will be awarded in 2008, he said.  By visiting www.automotivescholarships.com, students can fill out a single form to apply for GAAS scholarships as well as numerous other scholarships being offered by state trade associations and industry companies and associations.

Students who are interested in entering the aftermarket as technicians or in a professional career are given priority in the GAAS scholarships, Kornafel said, followed by students whose parents work in the automotive industry (whether or not the students is seeking an automotive career).  He said that each of the other groups offering scholarships on the site set their own guidelines.

The idea of having other associations participate in the Web site that was developed for the GAAS scholarships came about through a desire to attract as many applicants as possible and then offer the applicants the best chance of earning one or more scholarships, Kornafel said.

 
"Once we got the software, it made it feasible," he said.  "Ideally, with all of the groups soliciting applications, we'll have a bigger pool to look at, but it is as much a service to the kids as anything."

Once a student fills out an application, it is forwarded to all of the participating groups to compare against their standards and to run their own selection process, Kornafel said.  Reviewers from each of the groups can then go online and view and score the applications for their group.

 
Because each of the participating groups can view all of the applications and then make their decisions separately, it is possible that a student may be awarded multiple scholarships from a single application, he said.

The process was tested in 2007 with Automotive Parts & Services Association (APSA) and the Breslow Foundation, Kornafel said. It worked so well, he said that 15 groups are offering scholarships this year, including the California/Nevada/Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association, APSA of Illinois, RL Polk, the Association of Diesel Specialists, ASC Industries, and Zurich.  He said that other groups interested in applying are encouraged to contact GAAS.

Kornafel said that last year, about 400 students completed full applications, including the required transcripts and letters of reference.  He pointed out that because of the large number of scholarships available, it means there is a very good chance of an applicant receiving one or more scholarships.

"If you're a pure outsider and you're planning to be a brain surgeon and just want to throw an application over the wall, you're chances are probably pretty low," Kornafel said.  "But if you're dad is a NAPA jobber or a technician in a shop, you have a reasonable chance of earning a scholarship even if you aren't planning to enter the automotive industry."

The GAAS scholarships are $1,000 each, Kornafel said, and if a student graduates and goes on to become a technician, he or she can apply for a second grant of $1,000 after 6 months of work in the industry. 

Kornafel encouraged everyone in the industry with a son or daughter going to college to apply, as well as any students that are interested in joining the automotive aftermarket.   He said vo-tech instructors should encourage all their students to apply because there is no application fee.