To help support students seeking scholarships through the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarships, a challenge has been issued to the industry.

Peter Kornafel, chairman of the GAAS Scholarship Selection Committee, and his wife, Annie, have stepped forward to show their support for the industry’s future by issuing a challenge.

The Kornafels will match 100 percent of each donation to the GAAS Scholarship fund received before the end of the annual Symposium on May 7, up to $15,000 in total. Each donation of $1,000 or more will receive a 2009 scholarship named in that person’s honor.

“Annie and I have been strong supporters of higher education and the GAAS Scholarships for years,” says Kornafel. “It is our privilege to increase our commitment to the aftermarket industry this year. The economy has put pressure on funds available to GAAS in a year when the students need the money more than ever.”

Contributions can be made to the GAAS Scholarship Fund, c/o Susan Medick at AAIA, at (301) 654-6664, or susan.medick@aftermarket.org. Donor cards also will be issued to attendees at GAAS, slated for May 6-7, at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Chicago. Program details and online registration are available at www.globalsymposium.org.

"We have received more than 200 completed applications from students pursuing automotive careers for the 2009-2010 scholarship awards,” Kornafel notes. “We want to ensure that we are able to assist as many of these future aftermarket employees as possible in reaching their goals.”

For 2009, additional funding has been pledged by:

Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund
ASE / Michael Busch Memorial Scholarships
Breslow Foundation Scholarships
Leadership Development Network of AAIA (LDN)
R.L. Polk & Co.
Udell Family Charitable Foundation
University of the Aftermarket Foundation
Zurich

In 2008, a total of 150 students were awarded 170 scholarships by the GAAS scholarship fund, its contributors and other groups collaborating with GAAS. Individual scholarships ranged from $250 to $2,000 and more than $165,000 was awarded.

GAAS scholarships were awarded to 115 recipients in 2008, including 10 awards received by students from Canada. In its 14-year history, the GAAS scholarship fund has presented more than $1.4 million in awards to approximately 1,400 students. The annual investment to develop future automotive aftermarket industry leaders is funded through proceeds from the annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium.

More details are at www.globalsymposium.org.