Women in Auto Care scholarships, tool sets awarded

BETHESDA, Md. — Women in Auto Care (WAC) has awarded $75,000 in scholarship funds and $25,000 in tool sets to 30 women pursuing a career in the auto care industry.

The group's scholarship funding began with $2,000 in 2004 and has grown to $100,000 for 2018. Since 2004, WAC has awarded $357,500 in scholarships.

WAC, a community of the Auto Care Association, is comprised of auto care professionals dedicated to providing opportunities, education and career leadership to women in the auto care industry.

"We are so proud to see the tremendous growth of the Women in Auto Care scholarships over the last 14 years, and we are thrilled to be able to empower more and more women each year in our industry through this opportunity," said Danielle Sonnefeld, WAC education committee chair.

The top 2018 scholarship recipient, Christina Schneider of San Jacinto, Calif., was selected to receive a $10,000 award. In her application, Ms. Schneider shared a personal story of how she managed to take a difficult situation in her life and turn it around for the better through a career in the automotive industry. She will be flown out to Las Vegas this fall to be honored at the WAC reception during the annual Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo? (AAPEX) show.

Other 2018 award recipients include:

• Brenda Sims, Anchorage, Alaska;
• Heather Ripley, Freeport, Ill.;
• Lichinha Barbosa, Corpus Christi, Texas;
• Mary Griswold, Eau Claire, Wis.;
• Natcin Velazco Gonzalez, Ogden, Utah;
• Torry Tegio, Reno, Nev.;
• Callie Stead, Lima, Ohio;
• Camilyn Petrides, East Greenwich, R.I.;
• Danica Cissell, Paris, Tenn.;
• Li Mei Lin, Ithaca, N.Y.;
• Madison Lusche, Milford, Neb.;
• Angela Lee, Ann Arbor, Mich.;
• Antonina Alvarez, Tempe, Ariz.;
• Cassie Larrieu, Sparks, Nev.;
• Chelsea Dodge, Greeley, Colo.;
• Gloria Reyes, Alexandria, Va.;
• Katherine Dooley, Midland, Mich.;
• Madison Sira, Philadelphia;
• Taylor Bostick, Stillwater, Okla.;
• Emily Koch, Warren, Mich.;
• Clara Duff, Buna, Texas;
• Sierra Echavarria, Houston;
• Sarah Creach, Newton, Kan.;
• Hailey Ems, Cincinnati;
• Abagayle Boden, Loveland, Colo.;
• Gabrialla Pina, Richmond, Texas;
• Bascilia Padilla, Hobbs, N.M.; and
• Olivia Stocker, Poulsbo, Wash.

The University of the Aftermarket Foundation, TechForce and Cornwell tools provided contributions and support for the scholarships, according to WAC.