SEMA Awards Nearly $300,000 of Scholarships to 119 Students and Recent Graduates

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Images: Emma Cameron, Nathan Drobish, Katelyn Fair, Casey Pepper and Vance Weber
Suggested Caption: Emma Cameron, Nathan Drobish, Katelyn Fair, Casey Pepper, and Vance Weber are among the 119 students who received SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awards this year.

SEMA Awards Nearly $300,000 of Scholarships to 119 Students and Recent Graduates

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2021) -- The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund issued a total of $296,000 in scholarships and loan forgiveness awards to help 119 individuals who currently work or are planning to pursue careers in the automotive aftermarket industry. The winners include 97 students who received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and 22 employees of SEMA-member companies who received loan forgiveness awards to help pay off student loans.

For the first time in the program’s history, five students have been awarded Top Student Awards valued at $5,000 – the highest award possible. In addition to the financial awards, this year’s scholarship program also includes 10 winners who will be selected to take part in an inaugural SEMA Show student experience. The 10 students will be flown to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November, where they will participate in the industry’s leading trade event, make business connections and gain valuable experience.

"We're excited to honor another fantastic group of students and members to represent the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Program,” said SEMA Student Program Committee Chair Ian Lehn. “We are particularly thrilled for the student experience, and are excited to have top students join us at the SEMA Show for hands-on, real-world experience. They will see the SEMA Show up close, leave with meaningful industry connections and experience the magic that one can only get by being at the SEMA Show.”

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund and the SEMA Show student experience are designed to encourage and support future talent and leaders in the automotive aftermarket industry. Scholarships are awarded annually to foster 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. This year’s awards brings the total amount issued since the program’s founding in 1984 to more than $3 million

The online application for next year’s award will open starting in January of 2022, at www.sema.org/scholarships.

For questions or additional information, contact SEMA Project Manager, Member Services Byron Bergmann at 909-378-4859 or byronb@sema.org.

SEMA Scholarship Award Winners
Recipient (Institution Name, Major)

Breann Adamson (Highland Community College, Automotive Technology)
Gage Allen (University of Tulsa, Computer Engineering)
Trevor Andis (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Mechanical Engineering)
Dylan Baillie (Boise State University, Mechanical Engineering)
Darril Baty (McPherson College, Automation Technology)
Justin Beers (Ferris State University, Automation Technology)
Camden Boshart (California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Mechanical Engineering)
Emma Cameron (Boise State University, Mechanical Engineering) – Top Student & Ray T. Flugger Engineering Scholarship
Stassa Cappos (California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, Mechanical Engineering) – Leo Kagan Award
William Carlton (Citrus College, Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technician)
Zoe Carmichael (McPherson College, Automation Technology)
Daniel Castro (University of Southern California, Business Administration)
Jayden Clark (Michigan Technological University, Mechanical Engineering) – Dan Borré Award
Ty Clifford (Brigham Young University-Idaho, Automotive Technology)
Cameron Cocalis (Colorado School of Mines, Mechanical Engineering)
Jonathon Damzyn (Saginaw Valley State University, Electrical Engineering)
Turner Davidson (Purdue University-Main Campus, Mechanical Engineering)
Colby Dell (Rochester Institute of Technology, Mechanical Engineering)
David Dixon (Wesleyan University, Economics)
Melvin Douglas (Metropolitan State College of Denver, Mechanical Engineering)
Nathan Drobish (Lewis-Clark State College, Autobody Collision) – Top Student Award
Ryan Duffy (Purdue University-Main Campus, Mechanical Engineering) – Mike Kunzman Award
Preston Duller (University of Detroit Mercy, Cyber Security)
Maxwell Empson (Pennsylvania College of Technology, Autobody Collision)
Mark Fleming (College of Southern Nevada, Automotive Technician)
Katelyn Fair (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Mechanical Engineering) – Top Student Award
Zachary Garcia (Los Angeles Trade and Technical College, Diesel Mechanic)
Michael Gaston (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mechanical Engineering)
Makena Gaylor (Montana State University-Northern, Diesel Mechanic)
Benjamin Glaus (Minnesota State University-Mankato, Automotive Technology)
Brian Gonzalez (The University of Texas at El Paso, Electrical Engineering)
Damian Gonzalez (The University of Texas at El Paso, Mechanical Engineering)
Derrick Graham (WyoTech-Laramie, Diesel Mechanic)
Samuel Griffith (Northwood University, Automation Technology)
Cherokee Hall (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Mechanical Engineering)
Chase Heim (University of Wisconsin-Stout, Computer & Information Sciences)
Isaac Johnson (University of Indianapolis, Mechanical Engineering)
Trevor Jones (University of Northwestern Ohio, Business Administration) – Harlan Felder Award
Grayson Kief (University of Wisconsin-Stout, Industrial Design)
Alicia Kollien (Washtenaw Community College, Automation Technology) – Trudy Thompson Award
Dylan Konop (Bradley University, Mechanical Engineering)
Chapman Koster (Grand Canyon University, Mechanical Engineering)
Kristin Kotas (University of Sioux Falls, Business Administration)
Kenton Kyger (Kettering University, Engineering)
Dakota Leonhardt (Casper College, Machine Tool Technician) – Nat Danas Award
Summer Liampetchakul (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Motorsport Engineering) – Steve Woomer Award
William Link (Michigan Technological University, Electrical Engineering)
Grant Longstreth (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Automation Technology)
Collin Lotz (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Automotive Technician)
Scotty Lucas (University of the Pacific, Mechanical Engineering)
Katie Lyon (Iowa State University, Mechanical Engineering)
Mitchel Magraw (Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behr, Mechanical Engineering)
Morgan Maps (Los Angeles Trade Technical College, Automotive Technician)
Nathaniel Martens (University of Washington, Mechanical Engineering)
Angel Martinez (California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, Mechanical Engineering)
Leticia Mercado (University of New Mexico-Main Campus, Engineering)
Sloane Miller (North Carolina A&T State University, Computer Engineering)
Dudley Moore (University of Alabama, Mechanical Engineering)
Jonathon Nachreiner (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Technology)
Jonah Neumann (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Automotive Technology)
Tobias Noble (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Technology)
Garrett Olsen (Weber State University, Automotive Technology)
Austin Owen (Western Michigan University, Mechanical Engineering)
Chandler Pagnotta (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Mechanical Engineering)
Casey Pepper (Kettering University, Mechanical Engineering) – Top Student & Joe Hrudka Award
Sebastian Pereira (Harvard University, Computer Mathematics)
Madison Pixler (University of Notre Dame, Chemical Engineering) – Wally Parks Award
Nate Ragsdale (Montana State University, Mechanical Engineering)
Raquel Rodriguez (El Paso Community College, Automation Technology)
Caleb Rogers (Washtenaw Community College, Mechanical Engineering)
Christopher Schell (Iowa State University, Mechanical Engineering)
Dylan Schmitt (Ranken Technical College, Diesel Mechanic)
Carson Sevits (University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Aftermarket)
Michael Stamboulian (Villanova University, Business Administration)
Brendan Stejskal (Pittsburg State University, Automotive Technology)
Grace-Anne Stine (Missouri University of Science and Technology, Mechanical Engineering)
Kolby Tran (University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Computer Engineering)
Matthew Trees (Texas A&M University, Mechanical Engineering)
Michael Ustes (University of Michigan-Dearborn, Mechanical Engineering)
Luke Vilagi (University of Alabama, Mechanical Engineering)
Gabriel Villalpando (Minnesota State University-Mankato, Automotive Technology)
Briana Virella (Montana State University, Graphic Design) – John Raffa Award
Felix Vizuet (School of Automotive Machinists, Automation Technology)
Vance Weber (Kansas State University, Mechanical Engineering) – Top Student Award
William Welch (University of California-Los Angeles, Mechanical Engineering) – K&N Engineering Award
Keeley Whitmer (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Automotive Technology)
John Wilde (Clemson University, Mechanical Engineering)
Zachary Williams (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Automotive Technology)
Kinzie Wilson (Belmont Abbey College, Motorsport Management) – Jim A. Borre Award
Matthew Wilt (University of Northwestern Ohio, Robotics Technician) – Melvin Burton Award
Jakob Winn (Brigham Young University-Idaho, Automotive Technology)
Febe Wolf (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Mechanical Engineering)
Dominik Wolters (University of Maryland-College Park, Mechanical Engineering)
Madison Wong (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Artificial Intelligence)
Christopher Wong (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Electrical Engineering)
Dave Yonkers (Michigan State University, Computer & Information Sciences)
Steven Zacharatos (Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behr, Mechanical Engineering) – Joseph B. Amato, Sr. Award

SEMA Loan Forgiveness Award Winners
Recipient (Employer, Institution Name, Major)

Steve Boyd (Francis Tuttle Technology Center, University of Central Oklahoma, Education)
Arun Coumar (Driven Performance Advisors, Santa Clara University, Accounting)
Sophia Dancel (Ford Motor Company, Kettering University, Mechanical Engineering)
Paul Geyman (Cobb Tuning Inc., University of Texas at Austin, Mechanical Engineering)
Christopher Harubin (University of Northwestern Ohio, DeVry University-Illinois, Business Administration)
Aliceje Keyburn (Race Winning Brands, Art Institute of Southern California, Graphic Design)
Timothy King (Baer Brakes, California State University-San Bernardino, Marketing)
Sharon Mashal (Bespoke Coach Inc., California State University-Northridge, Engineering)
Mark Mollica (ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America, University of San Diego, Mechanical Engineering)
Kaitlyn Nelson (R3 Performance Products, Grand Canyon University, Political Science & Government)
Elizabeth Niemi (Edelbrock Group, Northwood University, Automotive Aftermarket)
Janelle O'Gorman (Automotive Lift Institute, SUNY College at Cortland, Graphic Design)
Sara Partridge (Driven Lighting Group, The Art Institute of Atlanta, Graphic Design)
Brenden Rassel (University of Northwestern Ohio, University of Northwestern Ohio, Automotive Technology)
Mariano Rubio (Citrus College, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, Mechanical Engineering)
Angel Scharklet (Holley Performance Products, University of the Cumberlands, Business Administration)
Brian Senum (Full Race Motorsports, Universal Technical Institute of Arizona Inc., Automation Technology)
Kirstin Stone (Derive Systems, University of Redlands, Business Administration)
Tyler Stover (Pratt Miller Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Automotive Technology)
James Stray (School of Automotive Machinists & Technology, School of Automotive Machinists, Automation Technology)
Heather Tausch (Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels, University of Phoenix-New Mexico Campus, Business Management)
Brian Walker (Roush Performance, Kettering University, Mechanical Engineering)

About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $47.89 billion specialty automotive industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. Association resources include market research, legislative advocacy, training and product development support, as well as leading trade shows such as the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, and the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, IN. For more information, visit www.sema.org, www.semashow.com, or www.performanceracing.com.

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