A gearhead named Maddi and future parts speciaist named Carter are two Canadians named among the 25 Auto Value/University of the Aftermarket Foundation scholarship recipients for 2024.

Recipients are selected from a competitive pool of student applicants from across North America with goals of completing their secondary education.

Madison “Maddi” Gray-Pirsak of Regina, Sask., and Carter Thomas of Tisdale, Sask., have both been named as $1,000 scholarship winners. Both have family working with Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance member warehouse Auto Electric Service, based in Regina, Sask.

Madison “Maddi” Gray-Pirsak is attending the University of Regina Faculty of Arts with a majory in Psychology. She plans to follow this up wtih a degree in Education and a Masters in Pyschology. She is also a gearhead and “absolutely love diesels!” a social media post says. “i have a 2001 Dodge Cummins 2500 and it’s my project truck that I’ll be completely rebuiliding throughout the next year.”

“I am going to school for the Parts Management Technician Certificate course at Sask PolyTechnic in Saskatoon beginning in September 2024,” wrote Carter Thomas in a social media post. “It is an 8 month course that covers many aspects of the parts industry such as learning identification and functionality of parts, inventory management, computerized programs, using parts catalogues, purchasing, warehouse operation, material handling and most importantly, customer relationships.”

He was inspired by a retired manager of the Tisdale Auto Electric Service store.

“When a customer would come in, he would not have to look the item up but instead knew exactly what they needed off the top of his head. He also had the ability to be creative with his work – if the store didn’t have the particular part the customer needed in stock, he was often able to find a solution and make something work for them. Customers appreciated his knowledge and experience and came to our store because of it.”

Here is this year’s full list scholarship recipients, and their respective warehouse distributor include:

• Sarah Crecelius, Rio Vista, Texas: 4M Parts Warehouse
• Madison Gray-Pirsak, Regina, Saskatchewan; Auto Electric
• Carter Thomas, Tisdale, Saskatchewan; Auto Electric
• Zachary Burg, Saint Cloud, Minnesota; Automotive Parts Headquarters
• Ryan Hiebner, Henderson, Nebraska; Automotive Parts Headquarters
• Cohen Palmer, Bison, South Dakota; Automotive Parts Headquarters
• Joshua Tangen, Roseau, Minnesota, Automotive Parts Headquarters
• Yiannis Logothetis, Lake Mills, Wisconsin; Auto-Wares Group of Companies
• Oscar Reyes, North Chicago, Illinois; Auto-Wares Group of Companies
• Jarod Wright, Manistee, Michigan; Auto-Wares Group of Companies
• Joseph Rakowski, Southampton, Pennsylvania; Eastern Automotive
• Katelynn Baker, Lowville, New York; Hahn Automotive
• William Baxter, Honeoye Falls, New York; Hahn Automotive
• Lindzy Dolder, Lizton, Indiana; Hahn Automotive
• Frankie Giocastro, Oceanport, New Jersey; Hahn Automotive
• Matthew Keplar, Norfolk, Virginia; Hahn Automotive
• Alexandra Skidmore, Starrucca, Pennsylvania; Hahn Automotive
• Sean Vazquez, Granada, Colorado; Jobbers Automotive
• Madison Long, Greenfield, Iowa; Merrill Co.
• Brock Tiernan, Woodward, Iowa; Merrill Co.
• Zackery Beshears, Greenwood, Arkansas; Parts Warehouse Inc.
• William Crews, Maumelle, Arkansas, Parts Warehouse Inc.
• Madeline Ezell, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Parts Warehouse Inc.
• Maddox Lapp, Many, Louisiana; Parts Warehouse Inc.
• David Reed, Dover, Arkansas; Parts Warehouse Inc.

“2024 was yet another outstanding year, with a pool of highly qualified and competitive applicants for these scholarships. It brings our team so much excitement to see students thrive and pursue a higher education. The Alliance team looks forward to supporting the University of the Aftermarket Foundation every year with their scholarship program,” said Laurel Lopez, Marketing & Events Coordinator for Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc, program headquarters for Auto Value.

“Congratulations to all our Auto Value Scholarship Recipients! We are proud and excited to see what the future holds for you.”

All affiliated Auto Value candidates completed a comprehensive application that included essay prompts, short answers, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and more. An industry panel of judges reviewed and ranked the applicants based on their merits following established guidelines along with oversight and administration from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation. Candidates were also required to verify they were employees or children of employees at an Auto Value or Confidence Plus location. 

Since the Alliance scholarship program was developed in 2001, it has awarded almost $600,000 in scholarships to deserving students. The annual program encourages continuing education within the membership and supports the next workforce generation in achieving their educational goals.

For more information about the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, please visit https://uofa-foundation.org/.