SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund Announces Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(July 18, 2012)

Contact: Della Domingo
909/978-6723
dellad@sema.org

SEMA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND ANNOUNCES AWARDS

DIAMOND BAR, CA (July 18, 2012) - The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $145,000 to 84 individuals. The awards include 69 scholarships presented to current students, and 15 loan-forgiveness awards presented to employees of a SEMA-member company.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 1984 to assist individuals pursuing careers in the automotive specialty-equipment industry by providing financial assistance to help with educational expenses. Scholarships are available to students pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including accounting, engineering, race-car driver/crew, administration, information technology, sales/marketing, advertising, manufacturing, technicians, design/graphics, photo/journalism and transportation.

Since the program's establishment in 1984, $1.5 million has gone to 1,000 deserving students. Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $2,000, with $4,000 going to the top student. A full-tuition scholarship, valued at up to $29,400, is awarded to one student attending Ohio Technical College (OTC).

The SEMA Loan Forgiveness Program aids recent graduates in getting off to a successful start in their automotive aftermarket careers by providing individuals who are employed by SEMA-member companies with $1,000 awards toward outstanding student loans.

The online application for next year's awards will be available December 3, 2012, through April 5, 2013.

For questions or additional information, please contact SEMA Education Administrator Juliet Marshall by phone at 909-978-6655 or via e-mail at julietm@SEMA.org.

2012 SEMA Scholarship Award Winners

Thomas Akins, School of Automotive Machinists
Samuel Ames, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Andrew Baldwin, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Kirk Barber, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis
Kyle Barlow, Northwood University
Ryan Baxter, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Casey Boyle, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
William Cannon, California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Joe Hrudka Award)
James Carter, University of Alabama at Birmingham (Jim Borre Award)
Daniel Chae, Art Center College of Design (Phil Weiand Award)
Christopher Clark, Farmingdale State College
Alexandar Coralic, Cardinal Stritch University
John Crespo, San Bernardino Valley College (K&N Engineering Award)
Justin Crider, Pennsylvania College of Technology (Joseph B. Amato, Sr. Award)
Joshua Dahl, Brigham Young University (Young Executives Network Award)
Cayle Christian Damrow, University of Wisconsin-Stout (Wheel & Tire Council Award)
Nataki DeForrest, Wayne State University
Ian Dunlap, Metropolitan State College of Denver
Chad Ediger, McPherson College
Ryan Eggebrecht, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Jose Garcia, Colorado State University-Pueblo
Michael Godfrey, University of Northwestern Ohio
Joshua Greenplate, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Bret Guzik, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis (Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council Award)
Bonnie Guzman, Universal Technical Institute of Texas
Kalila Haddad, McPherson College
Mandar Hazare, Clemson University (Wally Parks Award)
Robert Hemingway, California State University-Northridge
Nicholas Hoffmann, University of Northwestern Ohio
Howard Hsia, University of Southern California
Nina Hunter, Weber State University
Catalina Hurtado, University of Akron
Jeffrey Jagusch, Northwood University (Michael A. Kunzman Award)
Nicole Kelsey, University of Arizona (Manufacturers Rep Council Award)
Jeffery Kesterson, Clackamas Community College (Thurston Warn Award)
Andrew Komurka, Michigan Technological University
Donovan Krehbiel, Kansas State University (Truck and Off-Road Alliance Award)
Kevin Leparski, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Street Performance Council Award)
Jasmine MacLaughlin, University of Wisconsin-Madison (L.L. Borrick Award)
Christopher Marquis, Ohio Technical College (OTC Award)
DeAnne Martinez, Weber State University
Kenneth Marvel, Pennsylvania College of Technology (Dan Borre Award)
Andrew Mattord, University of Northwestern Ohio
Brent Maynard, University of Northwestern Ohio
Angelo McCartney, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Shayne McConomy, Clemson University (Melvin Burton Award)
Alex Miller, Georgia Institute of Technology (Bernie Karp Award)
Sara Mohon, Clemson University (Top Student Award)
Ryan O'Dette, University of Northwestern Ohio
Kyle Olason, North Dakota State University
Jennifer Olfert, California State University-San Bernardino
Michael Palmer, University of Northwestern Ohio
Brandon Peeler, Central Michigan University (Steve Woomer Award)
Michelle Perez, Skyline College (ARMO - Jeff Moses Award)
Derek Riddle, Ohio State University
Lissette Rios, University of Scranton
Michael Robins, Northwood University
Rodney Rose, Brigham Young University-Idaho
Angel Scharklet, Mid-Continent University (Yee Award)
Dave Schenker, Boise State University
Kylee Scott, McPherson College
Michael Scruggs, Clemson University
Christina Sepulveda, Nashville Auto Diesel College
Andrew Smallman, Kettering University
Jordan Sneathen, University of Missouri-Columbia
Steven Thomalla, Saint Cloud State University (Lund Award)
Shelley Thurk, California State University-Northridge (SEMA Businesswomen's Network Award)
Steven Troy, Carnegie Mellon University
Nedim Vrtagic, Ohio State University
Brandon Wight, McPherson College, Eastwood Company Award

2012 SEMA Loan Forgiveness Recipients

Jay Bargas, Denso Sales California
Kimberly Biniak, Prestolite Performance
Brian Botts, Warehouse West (PWA Award)
Laura Conrad, Kahn Media
Laurel Dasher, Powerteq (Superchips/Edge) Top Female Award
Debra Dixon-Coen, Nissan North America (Trudy Thompson Award)
Kyla Dockery, Holley Performance Products
Marco Gutierrez, Kahn Media
Michael Healy, Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc.
Jeremy Hepokoski, Roadwire (Professional Restylers Organization Award)
Lance Hunter, Bully Dog Technologies
Alberto Izarraraz, Falken Tire
Aron Martin, Johnny's Auto Trim & Rod Shop (Hot Rod Industry Alliance Award)
Robert Martin, Lane Automotive/Motor State Distributing
Nikki Nichols, GPI/ Carquest

About SEMA
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963, represents the $29.99 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,537 member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA 91765, tel: 909/396-0289, or visit www.sema.org or www.enjoythedrive.com.

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