Ford Motor Company Fund is teaming up with dealers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix to provide $1 million in scholarship funding to help students pursue careers as automotive technicians.
“As we move toward an electrified future, these career opportunities are exciting and require skilled technicians who are proficient in STEM-related study,” said Elena Ford, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “Working together with Ford Fund and our dealers to offer this scholarship program means we will welcome a new generation of diverse students to the industry, and hopefully into our Ford family, to help us better serve our customers.”
The need for auto technicians is critical, according to TechForce Foundation. Despite annual demand for 258,000 new technicians across the U.S., there are only 48,000 graduates from technician programs each year. And that gap is likely to widen without new graduates, with projected growth rates of only 14% in Arizona, 10% in Texas, 7% in Georgia and 3% in Illinois for tech career fields respectively.
The Ford Auto Tech Scholarship is open to current and future students who are enrolled in post-secondary auto or auto and diesel technician training programs in the Greater Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix areas. The need-based scholarship is applied to a student’s school tuition account and may be used for all cost of attendance, including tuition, tools, living expenses and transportation.
“These scholarships will go a long way in engaging students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, to consider careers in automotive technology and service,” said Jennifer Maher, CEO, TechForce Foundation. “We’re excited about working with Ford Fund and Ford Dealer partners to help create a path to careers students may not have considered before.”
Scholarships will be administered by TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit supporting students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. Ford is proud to partner with TechForce given their deep understanding and expertise of the essential skills required to build a diverse pipeline of auto technicians.
The Ford Auto Tech Scholarship program supports Ford’s greater mission to prepare, empower and grow the future workforce needed to service vehicles and customers to prepare for an electrified future including:
- A focus on STEM-based curriculum in combination with hands-on learning
- Reaching students early and reinforcing the opportunities available for upward professional and economic advancement
- Collaboration with dealers through their involvement in participating schools, career fairs, shadowing days, mentoring and internships
