Quick Lane, DAV revive veterans scholarship offer

DEARBORN, Mich. — Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center is reviving its "Trading One Uniform For Another" initiative — which awards scholarships to U.S. military veterans toward a certification in automotive maintenance and repair — for a second year.

Quick Lane Tire, the nationwide vehicle maintenance and tire replacement program for Ford dealers, is partnering with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) on the trading uniform initiative, which will award $10,000 scholarships to five veterans selected by public vote.

The funds can be used to pay for tuition, books and fees at any community college, university, trade or vocational school in the U.S. with an accredited program in automotive mechanics, according to Quick Lane, a Ford Motor Co. initiative.

Quick Lane and the DAV will announce the five scholarship recipients at this year's Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 26.

The nominating process lasts until Dec. 11. Quick Lane and DAV will announce the winners Dec. 26 at the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit.

Interested parties can nominate veterans for these scholarships by going to QLtradingone.com and writing a short essay on why their nominee is a deserving recipient. Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers will select 10 finalists from all qualified nominees.

In November, which is Military Appreciation Month, Quick Lane will introduce the finalists through the website.

Last year's winners were: Army veterans Casey Markvicka of Burwell, Neb., Robert Jarden of Nashville, Ill., and Walter J. Decker of King, N.C.; Marine Corps veteran Jessica Johnson of Kennewick, Wash.; Air Force veteran Marie Sussenbach.

Quick Lane promoted the contest at the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race on the Quick Lane-sponsored No. 21 Woods Brothers Ford Fusion driven by Ryan Blaney and plans to do so again Oct. 15 during the Alabama 500 at Talladega Speedway.

There are more than 800 Quick Lane locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.