The Industry’s Next Generation Visits the 2012 SEMA Show

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SEMA Member News—March/April 2013  

The Industry’s Next Generation Visits the 2012 SEMA Show

 

 The 2012 scholarship winners attended a Pit-Stop event at the SEMA Show, where they met winners from other schools as well as SEMA staff and Scholarship Committee members. SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (center) and Scholarship Committee Chairman Joel Ayres (center right) were on hand to greet the students.
The 2012 scholarship winners attended a Pit-Stop event at the SEMA Show, where they met winners from other schools as well as SEMA staff and Scholarship Committee members. SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting (center) and Scholarship Committee Chairman Joel Ayres (center right) were on hand to greet the students.

   
 

Scholarship winners in their final year of school were given personal tours of the SEMA Show floor and were introduced to several exhibitors. During the tour, students had a chance to meet industry icon Vic Edelbrock (center).
Scholarship winners in their final year of school were given personal tours of the SEMA Show floor and were introduced to several exhibitors. During the tour, students had a chance to meet industry icon Vic Edelbrock (center). 

   
The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive leaders and innovators, awards approximately 75 scholarships every year.

Students who attended the 2012 SEMA Show were given special hard-card credentials (in addition to their Show badges) that identified them as the industry’s next generation.
Students who attended the 2012 SEMA Show were given special hard-card credentials (in addition to their Show badges) that identified them as the industry’s next generation.

   
     
These awards help prepare the industry’s next generation for today’s competitive market through financial assistance for students attending various universities, colleges and/or vocational schools in the United States. In fact, the fund has yielded more than $1.5 million in scholarships since 1984.

In 2012, SEMA scholarship winners were given additional opportunities to enhance the funding they received.

“We know that awarding money is essential, but we want to take it a step further,” said Scholarship Committee Chairman Joel Ayres.

“The Scholarship Committee wants our industry to cultivate an ongoing relationship with the winners beyond just the award money. The ultimate goal is to draw future leaders and innovators to the aftermarket. We developed an additional package to help the students start building their industry networks.”

The winners were offered the following additional incentives after they were notified that they had won an award:

  • Credentials to the 2012 SEMA Show: The credentials provided the winners with unique access to attend the industry’s premier event and the opportunity to personally meet key specialty-equipment market contacts.
  • Scholarship Winner Pit Stop at the SEMA Show: SEMA hosted a meet-and-greet “pit stop” at the Show to give winners a chance to meet each other as well as SEMA staff and Scholarship Committee members.
  • Connect With Industry Contacts for Informal Mentoring: SEMA is made up of thousands of member companies. Award winners will be connected with an industry contact who works in the winner’s area of interest for some informal mentoring telephone calls.
  • SEMA Classifieds: SEMA invited winners to take advantage of the SEMA Classifieds to look for jobs or internships or to post a classified for “position wanted” or “internship wanted.”

Additionally, the Scholarship Committee voted to increase the award amounts for 2013 to be more in line with national averages. The new award amounts range from $2,000–$3,000, with the top student being given $5,000.

SEMA represents a vibrant and innovative industry with many employment opportunities. The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund can help be the gateway for many students to enter the aftermarket, with SEMA becoming an essential resource for students as they pursue careers in the automotive industry. For more information about the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, go online to www.SEMA.org/scholarships.