Sonic announces winter 2025 scholarship recipients
Sonic has announced the recipients of its 2025 winter Impact Scholarship Program, the second round of the year's scholarship season. The program honors students in automotive, aviation, and manufacturing technology programs who demonstrate the organization's core PACE principles: passion, accountability, collaboration, and experience.
Five recipients have been chose from a nationwide applicant pool. Each recipient will receive a specially assembled collection of premium hand tools tailored to their specific discipline. The automotive recipient will receive Sonic's 255-pc Basic Automtive Toolset and S12 XD Toolbox. These tools are intended to aid each student throughout their training and help them launch their professional technician careers.
Automotive student:
- Michael Debendetto: Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Irving, TX, from Hewitt, NJ.
Aviation students:
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Maria Hoff: Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, from Maple Grove, MN.
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Trystan Daughtry: Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK, from Tulsa, OK.
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Trevor Hill: Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, from Walkertown, NC.
- Willburn Smith: University of Fairbanks in Fairbanks, AK, from Fairbanks, AK.
A word from Sonic
"This group of five talented students exemplifies the next generation of skilled trade professionals. Every recipient has shown outstanding academic performance alongside a dedication to the PACE principles that define excellence in the automotive and aviation fields," said Colby McConnell, CEO of Sonic USA. "By equipping them with professional-grade tools, we're enabling them to concentrate on mastering their craft without the financial stress of purchasing the required hand tools."
About the scholarship
Sonic's scholarship initiative aims to address the technician workforce gap throughout automotive, aviation, and manufacturing sectors. According to TechForce's 2024 Supply & Deman Report, the automotive industry needs nearly one million new-entry technicians in order to eliminate the gap.
The biannual Impact Scholarship program will recommence in January 2026 and the next five recipients will be named in June. For more information on how to apply, visit Sonic's website.