As both shops and dealers have struggled to contend with a continuing technician shortage, the Used Truck Association is offering The UTA Jerome Nerman Family Foundation VoTech Diesel Technician/Bodyshop scholarship. These one-time scholarships will award three tech students with $6,000 directly to their institution, with an emphasis on diesel mechanics and heavy truck body shop training.
“Today’s trucks are more sophisticated than ever,” said Hal Dickson, remarketing director for Volvo/Mack. “We need more smart people repairing and maintaining today’s and tomorrow’s trucks.”
In order to qualify, students must submit their completed applications by mail, arriving on or before September 9, 2022. Further criteria include:
- Community activities and support
- Work accomplishments
- Academic success
- References
- School activities
Included in the application are education and work experience listings with transcripts, if applicable; activities and award descriptions; and two short essays on the applicant’s biography and career aspirations. The references for scholarship hopefuls much include two from teachers and one from a businessperson, community leader, coach, or colleague. Finally, the applicant must have both a UTA sponsor, who will be listed on the application, and have their applicant evaluation completed by a counselor, college advisor, instructor, or supervisor.
Once completed, applicants must send their packet to the Used Truck Association c/o Sentry Management, 303 corporate Center Dr., Suite 300A, Stockbridge, GA 30281, where their documents will be reviewed by an independent panel from the Business School at Johnson Community College.
If selected, recipients will be notified by phone before their success is announced in a UTA newsletter and at the 2022 Used Truck Association Annual Convention, which will take place Nov. 11-12.
“We look forward to the applications for these scholarships,” said Tim Ronan, director of used trucks for McMahon Trucks and chair of the Used Truck Association Scholarship Committee. “These scholarships can change someone's life.”
