ECTC auto-diesel program creates scholarship

Automotive students at the local community college have another avenue to ease tuition costs thanks to a scholarship using money won in a national competition.

The auto-diesel program at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College received $2,500 for being named the top program in the southeast region in Tomorrow Technician’s School of the Year competition. The money came from WIX Filters.

Jerry Clemons, an associate professor in the program, said there wasn’t an auto-diesel scholarship and instructors wanted a way to ease students’ costs.

“We felt strongly that we wanted to set a precedent that there was a scholarship for students,” Clemons said.

The fund will be started with the money from the award and will continue through donations to the university.

“We thought this was a good use of the prize,” he said.

One student every year will receive $500. Requirements for consideration includes completion of 15 credit hours, a 3.25 grade point average, earning industry certificates and completion of Automotive Service Excellence examinations.

“This fits a need for somebody who’s been with the college for a while and has already taken some automotive classes,” Clemons said.

Donations can be made to the college through the Office of Institutional Advancement, which can be reached at (270) 706-8580.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.