WSADA Announces 2017 Scholarship Winners
Five Washington Students Receive Auto Dealer Scholarships
The Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA) awarded a total of $12,500 scholarships to five Washington students in the 2017 “New Car and Truck Dealers American Dream” scholarship program. Applicants were asked to write an essay detailing what the American Dream means to them and how they plan to fulfill their own dream.
“The judges were impressed with not only the recipients’ thoughtful and inspiring essays, but also their outstanding academic and community accomplishments,” said WSADA Executive Vice President Vicki Giles Fabré. “Each one is a highly capable, self-motivated, and a promising young person who will undoubtedly make a significant impact on their communities in the future.”
A total of four $2,500 scholarships were designated for a Western Washington student, an Eastern Washington student, a student studying Automotive Technology and one for a family member of a WSADA member dealership employee. This year, an additional $2,500 scholarship was awarded to a previous recipient of the WSADA Automotive Technology scholarship.
The Western Washington scholarship recipient was John F. Kennedy High School honor student Rose Nguyen who will attend the University of Washington with plans to become a Physician’s Assistant. Rose was a member of her school’s varsity cheer and tennis teams, and participated in student government. She also volunteered at King County Library’s Study Zone, and at a local elementary school teaching first grade students how to read, write and speak Vietnamese. “Receiving the WSADA scholarship will reduce my financial burden significantly and allow me to focus on my academics,” Rose said, “and I am extremely thankful for the generous award and am honored to be a recipient.”
The Eastern Washington recipient was Anahi Rodriguez Garcia, a graduate of A.C. Davis High School in Yakima. Anahi took both honor and college-level courses while also participating in several school clubs. In addition, she held part-time jobs and volunteered at St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish Church and the Union Gospel Mission. Anahi will pursue a degree in biomedical science at Eastern Washington University with plans to become a public health educator. A first-generation college student, Anahi said “I am very grateful that the committee noticed my application and believes in me, and I am proud to be a WSADA scholarship recipient.”
Scott Hansen, an employee of Foothills Toyota in Burlington, received a $2,500 scholarship to help him continue his studies at Shoreline Community College in Edmonds. Scott is halfway through the two-year Toyota Technician Training & Education Network (T-Ten) program, which helps develop and place factory certified technicians in Toyota and Lexus dealerships across the country. Scott said receiving the WSADA scholarship will help alleviate some of the financial challenges of living 80 miles away from school, and allow him to continue in the program.
Eatonville High School graduate Emily Padgett received the scholarship for a family member of a WSADA member dealership employee. Emily took both advanced placement and college-level courses, and participated in student government, the varsity cross country and track teams, and National Honor Society. Emily also worked part-time at The Salvation Army Camp Arnold and volunteered at CenterPoint Church. The daughter of Richard Padgett, an auto technician at Way Scarff Ford Auburn, Emily will attend Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. “The WSADA scholarship will aid me in paying for college and fulfilling my American Dream of becoming a doctor so I can help people,” Emily said.
The Association also renewed a $2,500 scholarship for Andrew Janikic who first received the WSADA scholarship in 2016. A graduate of Sequim High School, Andrew is majoring in Automotive Technology at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Andrew has worked at Bill Koenig Subaru in Port Angeles, and plans to become a Certified Master Mechanic.
“Washington dealers as individuals are very active in supporting the academic goals of young people,” Ms. Fabré added. “The Washington State Auto Dealers Association is honored to take that a step further as a group and help Rose, Emily, Scott, Anahi, and Andrew fulfill their educational goals and future dreams.”
Since the 2008 inception of the Association’s scholarship program, a total of $89,500 has been awarded to 36 students from across the state. WSADA will offer another scholarship program in the fall of 2017. Information will be available at www.wsada.org.
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Click here for a pdf copy of the press release: PRESS RELEASE – WSADA Announces 2017 Scholarship Winners