Women in Auto Care Scholarship Program Reaches $1 Million Milestone

October 13, 2022


BETHESDA, Md. - October 13, 2022 – Women in Auto Care, a community of the Auto Care Association, saw another record year for its scholarship program, distributing 96 awards worth $300,000 in both cash scholarships and starter tool sets, to female students across the United States looking to have a career in the auto care industry. The incredible success of this year’s program was supported by the generosity of Women in Auto Care community sponsors and member donations, as well as tool partnerships with Genuine Parts/ NAPA and Acuity.

“We know that the cost of toolkits can be a major barrier for students and new techs entering the field because of the cost associated with them.” Said Chelsea Burriss, Acuity. “We want to help remove that barrier, so that those individuals who have interest in pursuing a career in auto care have one less expense to worry about and can feel confident entering their education with a high-quality toolset.”

The Women in Auto Care scholarship program began in 2004 with just $2,000 and has continued to gain momentum each year. This marks the fifth year in a row that the program has been its most successful to-date, nearly doubling the record set in 2021. In addition, 2022 will see the program surpass a major milestone of more than $1 million dollars’ worth of awards being distributed.

“The Women in Auto Care community scholarship distribution has surpassed one million dollars” said Jessica Toliuszis, 2022 Women in Auto Care Chair. “One. Million. Dollars. in tools and cash prizes for the next generation of automotive professionals. Hundreds of women received scholarships which allowed them to pursue their goal of a career in the auto care industry thanks to the generosity of an entire community. You, every single one of you, played a role in developing the future of our industry. Thank you.”

Women in Auto Care recipients of this year’s fall scholarships, include:

Allison Hardy

Oakley,

Idaho

Ashleigh Stockton

Metairie,

Louisiana

Arieauna Mahan

Portland,

Oregon

Katherine Miller

Loxley,

Alabama

Rebecca Rodrigue

De Soto,

Missouri

Emily Holiday

Ypsilanti,

Michigan

Erika Burton

Loveland,

Colorado

Kirsten Coulthard

Clayton,

North Carolina

Jade Bovee

East Moline,

Illinois

Jasmine Slater

Moss Point,

Mississippi

Adeline Hampson

Santa Rosa,

California

Sofia Melkomukov

Woodburn,

Oregon

Mariela Henderson

Kaysville,

Utah

Kaygen Bogle

Convoy,

Ohio

Kennedy Hutton

Portland,

Oregon

Haley Penegar

Monroe,

North Carolina

Katlyn French

Saint Charles,

Missouri

Keeley Whitmer

Cumming,

Georgia

Nicole Bil

Algonquin,

Illinois

Aileen Herbert

Redmond,

Oregon

Kate Miner

Carlock,

Illinois

Kirsten Williams

Oak Hill,

West Virginia

Jacqueline Melendez Delgado

San Diego,

California

Cherokee Hall

Sanford,

North Carolina

Megan De Jesus

STOCKBRIDGE,

Georgia

Ryanna Martens

Linwood,

Michigan

Kayla Walsh

Waco,

Texas

Louise Johnson

FLORISSANT,

Missouri

Gabrielle Smith

Normandy Park,

Washington

Alexis Wight

Gillette,

Wyoming

Peyton Kusel

Vinemont,

Alabama

Ruby Palacios

Richmond,

Texas

Alayna Barba

Chicago,

Illinois

Lillian Reichenberger

Romeoville,

Illinois

Lailah Shabazz

Richmond,

Virginia

Rogue Stoops

Newton,

Illinois

Melina Camarena

Upland,

California

Crystalee Chaparro

Sewell,

New Jersey

Madison Andrews

Salem,

New Hampshire

Yasmin Garcia

Riverdale,

California

Elisse Richardson

Dexter,

Michigan

Sophia Dolan

West Yarmouth,

Massachusetts

Shelby Vincent

Thermopolis,

Wyoming

Kristen Walker

Riverton,

Utah

Shelby Dietz

Sutton,

Nebraska

Delanee Ross

Perry,

Missouri

Arieonna Blount

Mankato,

Minnesota

Bailey Dymacek

Ellsworth,

Wisconsin

Rachel Hernandez

Homestead,

Florida

Kimberly Betty

Flint,

Michigan

Rachel Vinson

Howell,

Michigan

Taylor Williams

New Brockton,

Alabama

Makala Jackson

Thomson,

Georgia

Georgia LeClair

Omaha,

Nebraska

Jennifer Stamboulian

Robbinsville,

New Jersey

Ashlee Zirkel

Kerrville,

Texas

Isabella Milam

Dubuque,

Iowa

 

Women in Auto Care will also once again partner with DRiV/ Garage Gurus for an additional $35,000 in awards for a spring program. The recipients of those awards will be announced at AAPEX.

For more information about Women in Auto Care, please contact womeninautocare@autocare.org  or click here.