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North Texas Ford Dealers Contribute to $1 Million Scholarship Program to Support Students Pursuing Careers as Automotive Technicians

  • Investment backed by Ford Fund and North Texas Ford Dealers will help meet the demand for highly skilled automotive technicians across the industry
  • Scholarship program aims to foster diversity and reduce barriers for students pursuing careers in automotive service and technology by helping cover tuition and costs of attendance
  • New focus on STEM skills fuels upward professional and economic mobility as the industry moves toward electrification

DEARBORN, Mich., Mar. 30, 2023 – North Texas Ford dealers are partnering with the Ford Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, to provide $250,000 in scholarship funding to help support students pursuing careers as automotive technicians.

North Texas is one of four regions contributing to the scholarship program, which will be available to help alleviate barriers to entering auto technician careers across the country. Funding will be facilitated by TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit supporting students through their education and into careers as professional technicians. 

The auto industry has long faced a shortage of technicians due to fewer students entering and graduating from post-secondary programs, according to TechForce Foundation. Despite the auto industry’s annual demand for 258,000 new technicians, there are only 48,000 graduates from technician programs each year nationwide. In Texas, the gap is likely to widen over the next decade without new graduates as there is 10% projected growth rate in this career field in the state.

“As we move toward an electrified future, these career opportunities are exciting and require skilled technicians who are proficient in STEM related study,” said Elena Ford, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “Working together with the Ford Fund and our Dallas-area dealers to offer this scholarship program means we can welcome a new generation of diverse students to the industry, and hopefully into our Ford family, to help us better serve our customers.”

The Ford Auto Tech Scholarship is open to current and future students who are enrolled in post-secondary auto or auto and diesel technician training programs in the Greater Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Phoenix areas. This need-based scholarship is applied to a student’s school tuition account and may be used for all cost of attendance, including tuition, tools, living expenses, and transportation.

Ricardo Rodriguez Long