DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Company Fund, the auto maker's philanthropic arm, is joining Ford dealers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix to provide $1 million in scholarship funding through the TechForce Foundation to help students pursue careers as automotive technicians.
The auto industry has long faced a shortage of technicians due to fewer students entering and graduating from post-secondary programs, according to TechForce, a nonprofit that encourages and supports students pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket.
Despite an annual demand for 258,000 new technicians, there are only 48,000 graduates from technician programs each year nationwide, Ford said. The gap is likely to widen over the next decade without new graduates as there are projected growth rates of 14% in Arizona, 10% in Texas, 7% in Georgia and 3% in Illinois for this career field respectively, according to TechForce.
"As we move toward an electrified future, these career opportunities are exciting and require skilled technicians who are proficient in STEM-related study," Elena Ford, Ford Motor's chief customer experience officer, said.
"Working together with the Ford Fund and our dealers to offer this scholarship program means we will welcome a new generation of diverse students to the industry, and hopefully into our Ford family, to help us better serve our customers."
The Ford Auto Tech Scholarship is open to students who are enrolled in post-secondary auto or auto and diesel technician training programs in the Greater Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix areas or intending to do so.
The need-based $5,000 scholarship is applied to a student's school tuition account and may be used for all costs of attendance, including tuition, tools, living expenses and transportation.
"These scholarships will go a long way in engaging students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, to consider careers in automotive technology and service," TechForce CEO Jennifer Maher said. "We're excited about working with the Ford Fund and Ford dealer partners to help create a path to careers students may not have considered before."
For more information and to apply for the Ford Auto Tech Scholarship, students can see TechForce.org/FordFund.
Applications are due by June 30 and applicants will be notified of the results on a rolling basis throughout the spring and summer.
