Michelin, TIA award scholarships for 21st year

LAS VEGAS — Michelin North America Inc. and the Tire Industry Association (TIA) have awarded academic scholarships valued at $6,250 to three students whose parents work at TIA member companies.

The scholarship program, now in its 21st year, provides funds that can be used to support the costs of college tuition, fees and books at an accredited two-year, four-year, technical or vocational school.

The recipients were announced at TIA's Tire Industry Honors Luncheon in Las Vegas on Nov. 1. Since its inception, the program has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to 72 recipients who have gone on to higher education.

• Sebastian Pires of Tulare, Calif., son of Kevin Pires, who works at TF Tire & Service in Tulare. Sebastian is a graduate of Tulare High School who planned to study finance at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., He received a $3,000 scholarship.
• Jackson Hoover of Edwardsburg, Mich., son of Mike and Sally Hoover, who are employed at Tire Rack Inc. in South Bend, Ind. A graduate of Edwardsburg High School, Jackson planned to study biology at the University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis and go on to medical school. He received a $1,625 scholarship.
• Hailey Ramsey of Vinton, Va., daughter of Jeff Ramsey, who works at McCarthy Tire Service in Roanoke, Va. Hailey is a graduate of William Byrd High School in Vinton with plans to study kinesiology on a pre-med track at the University of Virginia, with a goal of becoming an OBGYN. She received a $1,625 scholarship.

The scholarship funds are applicable for the 2021-22 academic year, Michelin and TIA said, and are renewable for up to three additional years.

"Each year TIA has partnered with Michelin to recognize diligent high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in both the academic and extracurricular realms," TIA CEO Roy Littlefield said.

"It is an honor to provide this scholarship assistance to the children of parents working in the tire industry at TIA-member companies."

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.