PHILADELPHIA — Icahn Enterprises L.P., through its Pep Boys auto service business, is offering $100,000 in scholarships to aspiring automotive technicians in its annual Find Your Drive initiative.
Pep Boys plans to award five scholarships worth $10,000 each and 10 worth $5,000 each to "qualified" students studying to become professional auto techs. The program coincides with Pep Boys' centennial in 2021 and ties into the company's "Race to 2026" initiative, designed to recruit talented technicians in the automotive industry.
To be eligible for consideration for a scholarship, students must be pursuing an automotive technician degree or certification through a full- or part-time college or trade school program and meet certain academic requirements, provide a written or video essay and submit two letters of recommendation, Pep Boys said.
"There's no better way to celebrate our centennial and demonstrate our commitment to the future than by supporting an impressive new generation of automotive technicians," Pep Boys CEO Brian Kaner said.
"For 100 years, Pep Boys has helped talented, passionate people build rewarding careers in this vital industry, and we're continuing to build on our legacy with $100,000 in new scholarships for 2021."
The $10,000 scholarships will go to students in major metro areas: Houston, Los Angeles; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; and Puerto Rico, Pep Boys said. The $5,000 scholarships will go to students in other areas. The amounts are more than double what Pep Boys awarded in 2020. The application window runs through midnight EDT on May 21. Winners will be notified by June 1.
Students can begin the application process and find additional details and eligibility requirements at pepboys.com/findyourdrive.
Pep Boys said its Race to 2026 initiative addresses an industrywide talent gap projected to grow to as many as 46,000 unfilled auto tech jobs over the next five years.
In addition to offering scholarships, the company partners with leading technical schools, internship and work opportunities during a student's education. After graduation, technicians can launch their careers with Pep Boys, starting out by performing basic maintenance and taking advantage of benefits such as tuition assistance, apprenticeships and continuing education to move on to more complex repairs, or progress to a leadership role.
