The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Minnesota (AASP-MN) awarded $17,000 in scholarships to help post-secondary automotive students pay for tuition during the 2013-14 school year.  The scholarships were in the amount of $1,000 per student and were made possible by a successful fundraising drive within the AASP-MN membership, as well as a generous donation from the Minnesota State I-CAR Committee.  All recipients will be entering the second year of a NATEF-certified automotive program based in Minnesota.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

• DeAndre Adams, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Cole Anderson, Ridgewater College, Willmar – Automotive Service Technology program
• Eric Beranek, South Central College, North Mankato – Automotive Service Technology program
• Kayla Berg, MN State College Southeast Technical, Winona – Automotive Service Technology program
• Jorey Brazell, MN State Community & Technical College, Detroit Lakes – Automotive Service Technology program
• Charles Brunschon, Century College, White Bear Lake – Automotive Service Technology program
• Zachary Gamradt, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Justin Hiltwein, MN State Community & Technical College, Moorhead – Automotive Service Technology program
• Nicholas Lindemer, Century College, White Bear Lake – Automotive Service Technology program
• Tanner Maus, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Faron McCleary, MN State Community & Technical College, Detroit Lakes – Automotive Service Technology program
• Zach Reisner, Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Benjamin Shiek, Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis – Automotive Service Technology program
• Jacob Sik, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Brian Smith, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud – Automotive Service Technology program
• Ryan Stenzel, Ridgewater College, Willmar – Auto Body Collision Repair program
• Bryant Zahradnik, Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount – Auto Body Collision Repair program

Twenty-nine students from 12 schools applied for the scholarships.  Applications were reviewed by a committee of industry representatives, with consideration given to scholastic achievement, education and career goals, financial need and written recommendations.

The scholarship awards are the centerpiece of AASP-MN’s Automotive Education Fund, which was established to provide financial resources to support automotive students, enhance automotive programs and raise awareness of career opportunities in the independent automotive service industry.