Meet our 2024 Scholarship Recipients!

Shelby Wycough, Batesville, Arkansa
Field of Study: Diesel Mechanics
Women Rock Trades Scholarship

As a young girl growing up in a rural Arkansas community, I never imagined that my path would lead me to the world of mechanics. However, it was through my involvement in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) that I discovered my passion for this field and set my sights on a career as a diesel mechanic.

Joining FFA opened doors I never knew existed. Through hands-on experiences and exposure to various agricultural practices, I found myself drawn to the intricate workings of machinery, particularly diesel engines. Whether it was restoring tractors or troubleshooting equipment malfunctions, every moment spent in the shop ignited a spark within me.
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Brett Pfeil, Alma, Nebraska
Field of Study: Automotive Technology
More Than One Path Scholarship Winner

I chose this career path because I have always been fascinated with vehicles and the different parts that make them work. From the engine to the transmission and suspension, vehicles have always piqued my interest and helped me choose this career. My parents bought me my first pickup. It was a 77” Ford F-150 that was rusty and needed some work to get running. Once we got it home I went straight to work trying to see what all needed to be fixed. After a few long nights with help from my dad, the engine fired up and roared with life. With the feeling of achievement rushing over me, I took off down the road to see how well it ran and rode. After I got the engine running and everything was working properly, I knew that this was the career for me.
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Claire Uhler, York, Nebraska
Field of Study: Automotive Technology
Women in Auto Tech Scholarship Winner

I have grown up working on and around cars all my life. My father worked in the automotive industry for several years as a certified GM technician and service manager before taking the opportunity to become an instructor for the Automotive Technology program at Southeast Community College (SCC) in Milford, NE. Over the years, my dad’s influence has nurtured my love for all things automotive. Since the 1st grade, I’ve wanted to be a mechanic like my father. I’ve spent most of my life under the hood, wrenching with my dad, learning from both my mistakes and my small victories. Whether it’s old cars or new cars, carbureted or fuel injected, a project or a finished product, I love it all.
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Megan Laubhan, Wichita, Kansas
Field of Study: Aviation Maintenance Technology
The Hourglass Tool Scholarship Winner

Ever since I was a young child, I have been enamored with airplanes and the concept of flight. I started off wanting to become a pilot when I grew up, because I wanted to know the feeling of flight for myself. When I graduated from high school, I enrolled in college to actualize these dreams, but quickly learned that college was far more expensive than I imagined. I joined the US Air Force to help pay for the costs of college and chose an arbitrary job in aircraft maintenance, knowing absolutely nothing about the subject. But a job that I took as a means of financing my education very quickly turned into a passion for aircraft maintenance. I still achieved the feat of becoming a licensed pilot, but it still left me wanting to do more.
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