Images: SEMA

Being a part of the automotive industry is a goal for many young people these days but getting there can be financially difficult. Fortunately for students looking to go to school for such career goals, the Specialty Equipment Market Association is stepping up in a big way this year, upping their SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awards by $1,000 each. That means more money going to the bright, young automotive enthusiasts that will take our beloved industry into the future.

Creating works of art like this could be in your automotive career's future.

The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to students preparing for careers in the auto or auto parts industries. Through an application process, scholarship winners are selected based on academic achievements, community involvement, work experience, written essay content and personal recommendations.

Scholarships are awarded in several areas, including engineering, sales and marketing, race car driver/crew, advertising and manufacturing.

Up this year from $4,000, the Top Student award provides a $5,000 scholarship to an accredited school for the top student who applied. Other scholarships awarded by SEMA are also up from $2,000 to $3,000 for scholarship recipients planning to attend four-year programs, and from $1,000 to $2,000 for scholarship recipients planning to attend two-year programs. These awards are one-time scholarships that do not require repayment.

Even "green technology" will advance with future generations.

Applications for these scholarships, as well as SEMA’s Loan Forgiveness Program (a program providing $1,000 awards to recent graduates working for a SEMA-member company and currently paying back student loans), are being accepted now through March 29th, so you must act fast to get your application in.

Whether you’re planning a career in the automotive aftermarket, or a student, child or relative of yours is, the SEMA Scholarship Program should not be overlooked.

After all, SEMA wants to support the industry’s enthusiasts and is making an effort to give the industry’s future leaders a step up in their career paths by providing them financial assistance for educational training.

SEMA not only supports future automotive industry leaders through their scholarship program, but also through events like the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow National Championship, which takes place ever year at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas.