BETHESDA, Md. — Women in Auto Care (WiAC) is partnering with Garage Gurus to create a new scholarship program for the Spring 2021 semester providing a dozen additional scholarships for women working towards a career as an automotive technician.
Through DRiV's Garage Gurus initiative — an industrywide training and support platform created to address the skills gap and technician shortages facing the automotive service industry — Garage Gurus will provide WiAC with $35,000 to establish the Women in Auto Care/Garage Gurus Scholarship Program.
"Through the Garage Gurus program, we have been a long-time proponent of technician education and development, whether it be through our online, onsite, and on-demand educational training modules, or through our own technician scholarship program," Michael Proud, vice president, marketing and commercial operations, DRiV, said.
"Women in Auto Care's mission is closely aligned with ours, and we realize the importance of supporting female technicians in the industry as we continue to face technician shortages across the country, especially during these tough times."
WiAC is a community of the Auto Care Association dedicated to the advancement, education and empowerment of women within the auto care industry.
"Women in Auto Care is thrilled to partner with DRiV and Garage Gurus to provide extra relief to young women pursuing automotive education this year," WiAC Chair Olivia Newton said.
"With all of the challenges 2020 has presented, we know some students have had to put classes on hold. Thanks to Garage Gurus' generous support, we are able to help ensure that these deserving techs in training can continue to pursue their dreams and stay on track with their career plans."
Over the past 16 years, the WiAC Scholarship Program has awarded over $560,000 in scholarships to cover tuition, books and other school-related expenses for female high school and post-secondary students seeking a career in auto care thanks to the continued support of the industry.
This new initiative will mark the first time the program has been able to provide funding for both the fall and spring semesters.
For more information, visit autocare.org/women-in-auto-care or email Jessica Finnerty, staff liaison, Women in Auto Care, at [email protected].
For more information about Garage Gurus, visit garagegurus.tech.