Garage Gurus announces 2020 automotive technician scholarship winners

July 2, 2020
Presented to students accepted or currently enrolled in accredited, U.S.-based automotive technical schools. colleges, universities, or full-time at a U.S. high school, each of the 12 recipients will receive $2,500 toward their automotive education.
Garage Gurus®, the first-of-its-kind national training platform from DRiV, announced the 12 recipients of their Automotive Technical Scholarship Program. Presented to students accepted or currently enrolled in accredited, U.S.-based automotive technical schools, colleges, universities, or full-time at a U.S. high school, each of the 12 recipients will receive $2,500 toward their automotive education. Since its inception six years ago, Garage Gurus has committed $180,000 in tuition support to future automotive service professionals.
"Technician shortages remain an issue throughout the automotive aftermarket industry, and Garage Gurus has committed resources and programs toward helping alleviate this situation through training and the development of future technicians," said Dennis Sheran, director, channel engagement and Garage Gurus, DRiV.  "We are very pleased to be able to help out these students as they develop the skills necessary to be leaders of the new generation of repair specialists and technicians."  

Applicants were required to submit an application, two letters of recommendation from non-family members, and a typed essay or video indicating "Why I Want to Be a Top Technician."  Winners' application packages were reviewed and chosen by Garage Gurus' team of ASE Master-certified technicians and other team members.

Students who will receive Garage Gurus scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year are:

  • Austin Ainslie – Alfred State College, Alfred, N.Y. 
  • Jose Barajas – Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, Wash.
  • Perla Bedolla – Salt Lake Community College, Sandy, Utah
  • William Burns – Morrisville State College, Morrisville, N.Y. 
  • Alan Chrzanowski, Jr. – Alfred State College, Alfred, N.Y. 
  • Daniel Bray Curry – South Plains College, Lubbock, Texas
  • Jakub Donscheski – Southeast Community College, Milford, Neb.
  • Andrew Long – Southeast Community College, Milford, Neb.
  • Madison Lusche – Southeast Community College, Milford, Neb.
  • Khoa Luc Nguyen – Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, Minn.
  • Logan Woods – University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio
  • Mateo Zapata – Atlantic Technical College, Coconut Creek, Fla.

Automotive service continues to be one of several skilled trades facing a shortage of incoming professionals needed to address business growth and worker retirement. To meet this continuing need throughout the industry, the Garage Gurus scholarship program was established in 2015 to serve as an investment in the future of local automotive service businesses and their employees, and specifically to the next generation of talented, highly-trained professionals who will help keep millions of vehicles in road-ready condition.    

Offering onsite, online and on-demand instruction, Garage Gurus is a first-of-its-kind national training platform designed to help front-line automotive service professionals keep pace with the latest vehicle technologies. State-of-the-art Garage Gurus technical education centers are operational in 12 U.S. markets – Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Dallas/Fort Worth; Houston; New Hyde Park, N.Y.; Rancho Dominguez, Calif.; South Florida; St. Louis; Suburban Detroit; and Van Nuys, Calif.

To learn more about Garage Gurus, it's training platforms, and more about the program, visit www.garagegurus.tech.

About Tenneco

Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois, Tenneco is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers and marketers of Aftermarket, Ride Performance, Clean Air and Powertrain products and technology solutions for diversified markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial and the aftermarket, with 2019 revenues of $17.45 billion and approximately 78,000 employees worldwide. On October 1, 2018, Tenneco completed the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a leading global supplier to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket. In the future, the company expects to separate its divisions to form two independent companies: DRiV, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company, and a Powertrain Technology company consisting of the Powertrain and Clean Air business groups. 

Safe Harbor

This release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to our strategies and plans to separate into two independent public companies.  Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ from those described in the forward-looking statements, including the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on general economic, business and market conditions, our ability (or inability) to execute on our plans to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and our previously announced Accelerate plan and to realize the anticipated benefits of these actions, our financial flexibility in addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to maintain compliance with the agreements governing our indebtedness and otherwise have sufficient liquidity through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possibility that Tenneco may not complete the separation of the Aftermarket & Ride Performance business from the Powertrain Technology business (or achieve some or all of the anticipated benefits of such a separation); the possibility the separation may have an adverse impact on existing arrangements with Tenneco, including those related to transition, manufacturing and supply services and tax matters; the ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers or other business partners; the risk that the benefits of the separation may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that the separation may not advance Tenneco's business strategy; the potential diversion of Tenneco management's attention resulting from the separation; as well as the risk factors and cautionary statements included in Tenneco's periodic and current reports (Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) filed from time to time with the SEC. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Unless otherwise indicated, the forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date of this communication, and, except as required by law, Tenneco does not undertake any obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to publicly disclose revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding these risk factors and uncertainties is detailed from time to time in the company's SEC filings, including but not limited to its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

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