Scholarship Program Bridges Students to Automotive Careers
CNCDA Foundation’s scholarship program has become a successful gateway for young talent to access rewarding automotive careers.
Dealers, like Putnam Family Dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area, invest in vocational training of a local student by sponsoring a $1,000 Foundation scholarship. They are building a pipeline of engaged employees.
General Manager Ed Shakalia (pictured with Baddr “Adam” Sanad, who received the 2023 Putnam Lexus scholarship), says Adam “is very committed to the dealership and hungry to learn. I think we will have him for a long time.”
Each CNCDA Foundation scholarship supports students' academic ambitions but also prepares them for real-world challenges and success in the automotive industry.
Sanad was an automotive student at Chabot College and shares, “I want to thank you for your help to get me into a dealer. Currently, I work at Putnam Lexus which I got the opportunity from the CNCDA Foundation. I am having a great time and everyday I’m learning something new. I want to thank you again for believing in me.”
Key Successes:
Skill Development: Scholarship recipients are enrolled in a CA Community College comprehensive training program in automotive technology. The Foundation chooses students with outstanding teacher recommendations.
Mentorship: Each scholar participates in the Mentor Your Future Tech program, providing guidance, industry insights, and an introduction to various roles within the dealership.
Employment Opportunities: Upon completion of their education, many scholarship recipients are seamlessly integrated into full-time positions at the dealership, like Sanad.
By nurturing the next generation of automotive professionals, our scholarship program fulfills a critical need for skilled workers and strengthens ties with local educational institutions.
Countless dealers have shown commitment to fostering local talent and supporting economic growth over the last three decades. Through the Foundation, dealers have donated $1.45 million in scholarships to California students
