Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      Cover-up: More retailers requiring face masks to curb COVID
      USW alleges COVID-19 violations at Kumho plant
    • Conti starts production of ‘HL' load index tires for select OE customers
      GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
      Stengel promoted to president of NAPA parent Genuine Parts Co.
      Former auto exec Tyrone Jordan joins Cooper board of directors
    • NLRB certifies USW as bargaining unit for Kumho plant in Georgia
      Air France renews tire supply deal with Michelin
      Hwa Fong joins Taiwan tire makers' bid for alternative to import duties
      Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Evolving delivery trends good for CV tire sector — Cooper exec
      Conti adding light-duty products to General Tire OTR tire lineup
      GM banking on 'BrightDrop' EV to build commercial van business
    • Hwa Fong joins Taiwan tire makers' bid for alternative to import duties
      New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      USW opposes Taiwan tire makers' dumping counterproposal
      New round of Paycheck Protection Program funding opens
    • Air France renews tire supply deal with Michelin
      Russia's Kama Tyres expanding truck, ag tire capacities
      OK Tire adds Cooper, GT Radial passenger tires, Michelin, BFGoodrich commercial tires
      Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
    • New NASCAR, F1 tire designs delayed due to COVID
      U.K. race series extends contract with Goodyear through 2026
      Goodyear Racing staying on track
      General Tire Canada renews sponsorship deal with Raceline Network
    • Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Hankook doubles size range of Ventus V2 all-season UHP line
      Conti adding light-duty products to General Tire OTR tire lineup
      Goodyear-brand belts back on the market under licensing arrangement
    • Manley: Tire dealers look to future
      OK Tire adds Cooper, GT Radial passenger tires, Michelin, BFGoodrich commercial tires
      Wholesaler K&M Tire hosts virtual dealer conference
      Hankook doubles size range of Ventus V2 all-season UHP line
    • AMRA to host 5 educational webinars in Feb., March
      Shocks/struts maker KYB unveils video training series
      Bauer Built completes expansion at Neb. facility
      Marinucci: Basic steps to email efficiency
    • WTC hosting webinar Jan. 20 on load-capacity standards
      Denver's Brian Sump named AAPEX Shop Owner of the Year
      DUB, TIS Wheels founder Myles Kovacs is SEMA Person of the Year
      AAPEX: Using social media to promote your business
    • New stimulus package fixes PPP loan confusion
      Vaccine may usher sense of normalcy
      2020 Review: PPP loans give boost to small businesses
      Latest COVID relief bill includes $325B in small-business support
    • Hwa Fong joins Taiwan tire makers' bid for alternative to import duties
      New NASCAR, F1 tire designs delayed due to COVID
      Linglong planning U.S. launch of 'Hubtrac' truck tire brand in 2021
      Papadimitriou to leave position with Pirelli after six months on job
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
    • Video: Demounting
      Demounting Equipment
      Making rims ready for a tight seal
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
    • Video: Safety
      Making friends with OSHA
      Ergonomics on the shop floor
      Customers
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
      Staying safe when repairing a tire
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
    • Video: TMPS Service
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
      Replacement TPMS sensor overview
      The life-saving work of TPMS
    • Video: Training
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
      Options and resources for CE tech training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      All types of lifts for all types of work
      Tips and recommendations for lifting safety
      The gravity of proper lift points
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
      The danger of too much, too little torque
      The importance of torque specifications
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
May 12, 1997 02:00 AM

DONNA BOZARTH MAKES THE GRADE

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    It's not easy at age 55 to go back to school and begin working toward a college degree. It's doubly hard if you have dyslexia, which impairs your ability to read, and your grades in high school were poor. It makes you wonder if you've got what it takes to compete at college.

    That was the situation Donna Bozarth, wife of International Tire and Rubber As-sociation Executive Director Marvin Bozarth, faced as she decided about a year ago to return to the classroom and seek an associate degree in travel and tourism from Sullivan College in Louisville, Ky.

    Two quarters later, she's on the Dean's List and thinking about pursuing a bachelor's degree and becoming a teacher, once she finishes her associate degree.

    ``I'm hanging in there,'' she said about her college courses. ``I make A's and it's great.''

    Mrs. Bozarth told me about what college has meant to her and how it has raised her self-esteem during the recent ITRA World Tire Conference in Louisville.

    High school, she said, wasn't easy, and she had trouble paying attention in class. Her grades were C's and D's, and she had no desire to go to college. ``I don't remember ever making a B,'' she told me.

    ``I felt dumb all my life,'' she said.

    She attributes this to her dyslexia, which even affected her ability to remember right from left.

    ``Left and right are still hard for me, and learning to tell time was terrible,'' she said.

    You'd never guess in meeting her that Mrs. Bozarth had doubts about herself. She's an avid reader of fiction and mysteries and enjoys books on such subjects as antiques and decorating. At age 42 she learned to paint with oils.

    She's fun to talk with, has an infectious smile, and you sense immediately she's a nice person—someone you'd like to know.

    Inside, however, she lacked faith in her ability to learn. But not any longer.

    College has done miracles for her self-confidence, her husband told me. ``She feels very good about herself,'' Mr. Bozarth said.

    It was after her three children had grown up that Mrs. Bozarth began thinking about going to college. ``I had a lot of time on my hands,'' she explained. ``I needed a life.''

    Inspired by ITRA's Bunny McDermott, a mother of three who persevered for 13 years to earn her bachelor's degree, Mrs. Bozarth decided to take the risk and enroll in college.

    ``She's my role model,'' Mrs. Bozarth said of Ms. McDermott. ``She encourages me all the time. She's almost as excited as I am.''

    Mrs. Bozarth also has gotten lots of support from ITRA. ``The board members and tire dealers that have heard about me going to school are all very proud of me,'' she said.

    Her husband is proud of her as well. ``I think it's the greatest thing in the world,'' he said.

    Besides the accomplishment of receiving her college degree, Mrs. Bozarth has another reason for wanting to achieve her college diploma—to show her children, none of whom finished college, that it can be done. ``I'm gonna show these kids they can do it,'' she said.

    I've no doubt that she will.

    Mr. Zielasko is editor and associate publisher of Tire Business.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • List Rental
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION