VISION Awards Breakfast Celebrates Technicians, Students, and Shops
On Saturday, March 7, automotive industry professionals—from students and technicians to educators and shop owners—were honored at the 2026 VISION Awards Breakfast. The event commemorated a year of excellence in automotive education, service, and professionalism, and celebrated 23 award recipients, including Jerry Holcom, who was presented with a $100,000 scholarship fund (the Jerry Holcom Scholarship Fund ) in his honor to be awarded for Technicians of Tomorrow.
Below are this year’s honorees:
MWACA Student Scholarship
- Morgan Liggett, Flint Hills Technical College, Allen, Kansas
- Caidn Williams, Albernett High School, Albernett, Iowa
- Nicole Pasterski, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
- Jadyn Friesen, Sutton High School. Sutton, Nebraska
Tim Cummings Memorial Scholarship
funded by Rick's Automotive Inc.
- Bella Contreras, Brazzeal Automotive, Tampa, Florida
Anthony Williams Memorial Student Scholarship
funded by Advance Professional
- Kaya Sezer, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Harvey Chan Memorial Scholarship
- Juan Saucedo-Torres, Euro Clinic, Santa Clara, California
Oz Mechanics Scholarship
- Aaron DeLeon, Precision Automotive, Bakersfield, California
Future Tech of the Trade Scholarship
funded by Shop-Ware & Changing the Industry Podcast
- Kaitlin Schave, Tenpin Motors, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Amazing Women in Automotive Scholarship
funded by Amazing Women in Automotive
- Monica Baeza, Port of Oakland, Richmond, California
Best Social Media
- Girlington Garage, South Burlington, Vermont
Website of the Year
- Pellman's Automotive, Boulder, Colorado
Best Places to Work
- Mevert Automotive & Tire Center, Steeleville, Illinois
Radical Generosity Award
presented by Shop Marketing Pros
- Brian & Jill Sump, Urban Auto Care, Denver, Colorado
Educator of the Year
- Dave Heinzen, Madison College, Madison, Wisconsin
Technician of the Year
- Brian Rush, Honest Wrenches, West Des Moines, Iowa
Service Advisor of the Year
- Nikki Anderson, Westgate High-Tech Auto Care, Omaha, Nebraska
MWACA Member of the Year
- Melanie Jacobs, Honest Wrenches, Des Moines, Iowa
President's Club
- Reggie Stewart, Reggie's Motorworks, Noblesville, Indiana
- David Hall, Quality Car Care, North Liberty, Iowa
MWACA President's Award
- Jim Wilson, Auto Dynamics, Olathe, Kansas
Facility of the Year
- Full Throttle Automotive, Evansville, Indiana
Golden Wrench Award
- Jerry Holcom, S&S Service Center, Kansas City, Missouri
About the Author
Chris Jones
Editorial Director
Chris Jones is group editorial director for the Vehicle Service & Repair Group at EndeavorB2B.
A multiple-award-winning editor and journalist, and a certified project manager, he provides editorial leadership for the auto care industry's most trusted automotive repair publications—Ratchet+Wrench, Modern Tire Dealer, National Oil & Lube News, FenderBender, ABRN, Professional Distributor, PTEN, Motor Age, and Aftermarket Business World.
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