SEMA News—October 2020

EVENTS

By SEMA New Editors

2020 SEMA Memorial Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness Award Winners Announced

Scholarships
The 2019 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund winners at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $307,000 to 106 individuals this year. The financial awards include scholarships for current students and loan-forgiveness awards to employees of SEMA-member companies.

“We’re excited to award this passionate group of individuals with our support as they embark on finding new ways to advance the future of the specialty-equipment aftermarket,” said SEMA Board of Director Chairman Tim Martin. “This year’s winners represent the diversity and young talent that our industry thrives on, and we look forward to how their contributions will drive us forward for years to come.”

More than $3 million has been awarded to more than 1,600 deserving students since the program’s establishment in 1984. The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund and the SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program are dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators by helping them get off to a successful start in their education and automotive aftermarket careers.

Online applications for next year’s awards will be accepted November 1, 2020, through March 1, 2021, at www.sema.org/scholarships.

For additional information, contact Youth Engagement Programs Manager Katie Hurst at 909-978-6693 or katieh@sema.org.

2019 SEMA Loan Forgiveness Award Winners

Recipient Employer Institution Name Major Award Fund Supporter
Sophia Dancel Ford Motor Company Kettering University Mechanical Engineering ETTN 
Kyle Ebner Ford Motor Company University of Detroit Mercy Product Development YEN
Eric Harding Pratt & Miller Engineering University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Mechanical Engineering  
Weston Kulman Pratt & Miller Engineering Northwestern University Mechanical Engineering WTC and YEN 
Jay McFarland Holley Performance Products Mid-Continent University Business, Management YEN 
Mark Mollica ThyssenKrupp Bilstein

of America
 University of San Diego Mechanical Engineering  
Joel Negrete Cummins Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 
Automotive Technology
 YEN
Hunter Pauloski Competition Cams Minnesota State University-Mankato 
Business Management
  
Christopher Pearson Directed University of Southern California Mechanical Engineering  
Nicholas Soave Race Winning Brands Kennesaw State University 
Mechanical Engineering
 YEN 
Janelle Storey Automotive Lift Institute SUNY College at Cortland Graphic Design/Art YEN
James Stray SAM Tech SAM Tech Automotive Technology YEN 
Jamison Wilcox COMP Performance Group Brigham Young University-Idaho Automotive Engineering & Technology  


2020 SEMA Scholarship Award Winners

Recipient Institution Name Major Award Fund Supporter
Jordan Aguana California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Mechanical Engineering   
Trevor Andis Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Mechanical Engineering   
Mary Elizabeth Bannister Auburn University Mechanical Engineering  
Zachary Barton Auburn University Mechanical Engineering  
Jacob Beshara Bethel College Business Management  
Alec Bianco Colorado School of Mines Mechanical Engineering   
Martin Blair Arizona State University Mechanical Engineering   
Camden Boshart California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Mechanical Engineering  
Rebecca Brunner Central Maine Community College Automotive Technician  
Omar Carrizales-Suarez University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Mechanical Engineering   
Takeshia Carter Kennedy-King College Autobody Collision  
Olivia Celinski DePaul University Finance  
Nicholas Chan Las Positas College Automotive Technology  
Dallin Clawson Brigham Young University Mechanical Engineering Nat Danas Award (PRO council) 
Cameron Cocalis Colorado School of Mines Mechanical Engineering  
Elijah Collins Valparaiso University Mechanical Engineering  
John Corder Oregon Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering Technology  
Kevin Dennis Rochester Institute of Technology Civil Engineering  
David Dixon Jr. Wesleyan University Economics  
Bonifacio Duller III College for Creative Studies Automotive Technology  
Chad Eisele Clemson University Mechanical Engineering  
Colton Elfstrom Gonzaga University Computer Engineering  
Isabelle Erickson Iowa State University Mechanical Engineering  
Emily Fuchsen Lincoln College of Technology Autobody Collision  
Benjamin Glaus Minnesota State University-Mankato Automotive Engineering
& Technology
  
April Graham Utah Valley University Autobody Collision  
Samuel Griffith Northwood University Automotive Marketing
& Management
  
Christian Gutierrez Florida International University Construction  
Michael Hand Pennsylvania State University Electrical Engineering  
John Hartman University of Northwestern Ohio Automotive Aftermarket Melvin Burton 
Thomas Havemann Clemson University Automotive Engineering
& Technology
  
Alix Helton Colorado State University Engineering  
Ryan Hinchberger University of Northwestern Ohio Automotive Technology   
Mark Jaszkowiak University of Idaho Mechanical Engineering  
Isaac Johnson University of Indianapolis Mechanical Engineering  
Robert Johnson Jr. Highland Community College Automotive Maintenance  
Zachary Jones Clemson University Mechanical Engineering  
Christopher Kay Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Automotive Technology   
Jered Kennedy Colorado School of Mines Mechanical Engineering   
Henry Kingwill III College of Lake County Autobody Collision  
Tyler Kraft University of Akron Mechanical Engineering Harlan Felder
Matt Lambert Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Automotive Technology  
James Larmour Nashville Auto Diesel College Diesel/Heavy Equipment Technician  
Joshua Larson Minnesota State University-Mankato Automotive Engineering
& Technology
  
Nicholas Lent Monroe Community College Information Technology
& Computing
  
Francesco LoGiudice Jr. Farmingdale State College Automotive Technology   
Scotty Lucas University of the Pacific Mechanical Engineering   
Morgan Malencia Ohio State University Mechanical Engineering   
Samuel Maner The University of Alabama Mechanical Engineering  Dan Borré 
Brandan Marhefka Pennsylvania College of Technology Welding Joseph B. Amato Sr.
Spencer Marler Brigham Young University-Idaho Business Management  
Omar Martinez Stanford University Mechanical Engineering   
Sydney McQueary The University of Tennessee Mechanical Engineering  Trudy Thompson (SBN network) 
Leticia Mercado University of New Mexico Mechanical Engineering  
Caleb Messer Mississippi State University Mechanical Engineering Steve Woomer
Evan Mihalko Gannon University Mechanical Engineering  Jeff Moses (ARMO council) 
John Milbrandt University of Akron Mechanical Engineering  
Sloane Miller North Carolina A&T State University Automotive Engineering
& Technology
  
Dudley Moore The University of Alabama Mechanical Engineering   
Nicholas Nicholson University of Northwestern Ohio High Performance Automotive  
Christian Nisperos University of California-Berkeley Mechanical Engineering  
Shane Olson University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Computer Engineering  
Ryan Ott Kennesaw State University Marketing Jim A. Borré
Austin Owen Western Michigan University Mechanical Engineering TORA 
Sebastian Pereira Harvard University Computer Programming  
Kenny Phan Clemson University Electrical Engineering  
Anthony Plummer Pennsylvania College of Technology Automation Technology   
John Rafferty North Dakota State University Mechanical Engineering   
Nathan Ragsdale Montana State University Mechanical Engineering Technology  
Emma Ricketts Southern Illinois University Carbondale Automotive Technology  
Sean Robinson McPherson College Automotive Technology  
Brady Robling University of Northwestern Ohio Automotive Technology  
Raquel Rodriguez Southwest Career Institute Automotive Technology Leo Kagan
Corbin Russ University of Arkansas Mechanical Engineering  
Shay Saarie Dakota Wesleyan University Business Management  
David Scagliotta Pennsylvania College of Technology Automotive Technology  
John Shanahan Western Technical College Automotive Technology  
Parker Simpson Rhode Island School of Design Fine Arts John Raffa
Michael Stamboulian Villanova University Business Management Mike Kunzman
Ashley Stamboulian Villanova University Business Management  
William Sullivan Pennsylvania College of Technology Automotive Technology John Menzler (HRIA council)
Ethan Tai University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Information Technology & Sciences
   
  
Matthew Trees Texas A&M University Mechanical Engineering Joe Hrudka
Michael Ustes University of Michigan-Dearborn Mechanical Engineering  
Jacqueline Van Zyl Georgia Institute of Technology Mechanical Engineering TOP STUDENT, MPMC and Bernie Karp
Luke Voldahl Eastern Michigan University Information Technology  
Vance Weber Kansas State University Mechanical Engineering  
William Welch University of California, Los Angeles Mechanical Engineering K&N Engineering
Joshua Wilhelm Kansas State University Mechanical Engineering  
Kinzie Wilson Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Management Wally Parks
Christopher Wong Massachusetts Institute of Technology Electrical Engineering  
Madison Wong Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer Programming  

 

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