TIA/Michelin award scholarships to three eligible high schoolers

LAS VEGAS — The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and Michelin North America Inc. have continued their industry scholarship awards for the 18th straight year, selecting the daughters of three employees of TIA-affiliated companies for the 2018 awards.

The three high school students — Averie Hebdon of Spring Creek, Nev.; Chenhao Ma of Powell, Ohio; and Sarah Pogash of Macungie, Pa. — will share $6,250 in scholarships for the 2018-19 academic year, Michelin and TIA announced at the 2018 TIA Awards Evening in Las Vegas.

The three were selected based on their academic and extracurricular achievements. The scholarship money can be used to support the costs of college tuition, books, fees, and room and board.

Ms. Hebdon is a graduate of Spring Creek High School in Spring Creek, Nev., and plans to study Veterinary Technology at Great Basin College in Elko, Nev. Her father, Chad Hebdon, is employed with Purcell Tire & Service Centers.

Ms. Ma is a graduate of Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio, and plans to study integrated business and engineering at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Her mother, Angela Chen, works at American Kenda Rubber.

Ms. Pogash is a graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School in Red Hill, Pa., and plans to study chemistry at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia. Her father, Thomas Pogash, is employed with Service Tire Truck Centers.

"Each year we are honored to recognize hard-working high school students who have demonstrated stellar academic achievement," TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield said. "All of our recipients show a great deal of potential and we are excited to assist them in their future endeavors."

The Michelin/TIA Scholarship has been awarded every year since 2000 to either part-time employees or dependent children of full-time employees of TIA member tire dealers. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $280,000 to 58 recipients who have gone on to attend accredited two-year, four-year, technical or vocational schools. $12,500 have also been applied to scholarship renewals. Once awarded, the recipients may renew the scholarship for up to three more years.