The Piston Foundation Awards 23 Scholarships for 2023 to Aspiring Auto Restoration Technicians
The Piston Foundation has announced that 23 Piston Scholarships have been awarded for 2023. This is the second year The Piston Foundation has granted Piston Scholarships to aspiring students who are training for careers in automotive restoration, collection management, and vintage motorsports.
The Piston Foundation is a public charity that works for the car enthusiast community, aiming to guide more young people down a successful career path with cars through its scholarship programs.
This year, the Foundation saw a significant increase in the quantity and diversity of scholarship applications compared to the initiative’s inaugural year in 2022. Twenty-three recipients were chosen from among 130 applicants, in 37 states, attending 27 different schools. There are also 6 returning scholars, each having been one of the initial 10 to receive an award last year.
“It’s not true that young people aren’t interested in working in collector car restoration. Our 2023 Piston Scholars are proof," said Piston founder Robert Minnick. "Each of our scholarship recipients is knowledgeable and passionate about classic cars. Our mission is to help them, and other future technicians, get the education and training they need to build their careers.”
Piston scholars receive scholarships ranging from $3,750 to $5,000. The scholarships help pay tuition at the automotive school of their choice. This can be any accredited two- or four-year institution. “The high cost of technical education can deter people from pursuing these skilled trade careers,” added Minnick. “Together, the Foundation and our donors are working to remove that barrier.”
“The 2023 scholarships are funded by the Cars For Piston Scholars campaign, which converts collector car donations into education and training for the next generation. Piston launched the campaign in March with the celebration of Bring-a-Trailer’s 100,000th auction of their own “Gimlet Z,” a 1973 Datsun 240Z. In August, a 1960 Willys Jeep, donated by Adam’s Polishes to Cars for Piston Scholars, was the most recent vehicle to be auctioned on Bring-a-Trailer. BaT donated 100 percent of the auction proceeds to the scholarship fund. Additional scholarship funding came from individual donors and the Cavallino Foundation.
“With continued development of our career path programs and support from the car community, the Foundation can reach more young car enthusiasts and show them a path to a rewarding automotive career,” said Jeff Mason, Piston Foundation president and COO.
“The Foundation continues to welcome donations from individuals, foundations, and the industry to help support our initiative.” “It’s a direct path from car donations to scholarships,” added Minnick. “With $175,000 raised so far this year for the scholarship programs, The Piston Foundation continues to work toward its goal of $250,000 in 2023. Collectors can give back to the community they love through Cars For Piston Scholars and know their donation will directly support education for future technicians.”
Applications for 2024 scholarships will be available in January 2024. Additional information and details on The Piston Scholars may be found at https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/piston-scholarship-awards-2023/
The 2023 Piston Scholars
Lindzie Archer, McPherson, Kan. (McPherson College)
Nigel Bannister, Seattle, Wash. (University of Northwestern Ohio)
Lucas Beasley, Canton, Kan. (McPherson College)
Edwin Buiter, Ireton, Iowa (McPherson College)
Zoe Carmichael, Raleigh, N.C. (McPherson College)
Joe Estevez, West Palm Beach, Fla. (North Palm Beach State College)
Jasper Fedders, Sioux Center, Iowa. (McPherson College)
Connor Hecei, Warren, Pa. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Ethan Heck, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Lanier Technical College)
Adam Hughes, Newman Lake, Wash. (McPherson College)
Cody Kuss, Bremerton, Wash. (McPherson College)
Carlos Leandry, McPherson, Kan. (McPherson College)
Dryden Powell, Council Grove, Kan. (McPherson College)
Alexander Riddle, Kingston, Mass. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Philip Schieffelin, Limon, Colo. (McPherson College)
Robert Schonberner, Omaha, Neb. (McPherson College)
Riley Sojka, Wichita, Kan. (McPherson College)
Blake Swingle, Columbus, Ohio (McPherson College)
Elias Vasquez, Irving, Texas (McPherson College)
Sean Whetstone, Fort Collins, Colo. (McPherson College)
Samuel White, Topeka, Kan. (McPherson College)
Zachary Wiernusz, Mountain Top, Pa. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Jace Willard, Palm City, Fla. (Indian River State College)
The Piston Foundation is a public charity that works for the car enthusiast community, aiming to guide more young people down a successful career path with cars through its scholarship programs.
This year, the Foundation saw a significant increase in the quantity and diversity of scholarship applications compared to the initiative’s inaugural year in 2022. Twenty-three recipients were chosen from among 130 applicants, in 37 states, attending 27 different schools. There are also 6 returning scholars, each having been one of the initial 10 to receive an award last year.
“It’s not true that young people aren’t interested in working in collector car restoration. Our 2023 Piston Scholars are proof," said Piston founder Robert Minnick. "Each of our scholarship recipients is knowledgeable and passionate about classic cars. Our mission is to help them, and other future technicians, get the education and training they need to build their careers.”
Piston scholars receive scholarships ranging from $3,750 to $5,000. The scholarships help pay tuition at the automotive school of their choice. This can be any accredited two- or four-year institution. “The high cost of technical education can deter people from pursuing these skilled trade careers,” added Minnick. “Together, the Foundation and our donors are working to remove that barrier.”
“The 2023 scholarships are funded by the Cars For Piston Scholars campaign, which converts collector car donations into education and training for the next generation. Piston launched the campaign in March with the celebration of Bring-a-Trailer’s 100,000th auction of their own “Gimlet Z,” a 1973 Datsun 240Z. In August, a 1960 Willys Jeep, donated by Adam’s Polishes to Cars for Piston Scholars, was the most recent vehicle to be auctioned on Bring-a-Trailer. BaT donated 100 percent of the auction proceeds to the scholarship fund. Additional scholarship funding came from individual donors and the Cavallino Foundation.
“With continued development of our career path programs and support from the car community, the Foundation can reach more young car enthusiasts and show them a path to a rewarding automotive career,” said Jeff Mason, Piston Foundation president and COO.
“The Foundation continues to welcome donations from individuals, foundations, and the industry to help support our initiative.” “It’s a direct path from car donations to scholarships,” added Minnick. “With $175,000 raised so far this year for the scholarship programs, The Piston Foundation continues to work toward its goal of $250,000 in 2023. Collectors can give back to the community they love through Cars For Piston Scholars and know their donation will directly support education for future technicians.”
Applications for 2024 scholarships will be available in January 2024. Additional information and details on The Piston Scholars may be found at https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/piston-scholarship-awards-2023/
The 2023 Piston Scholars
Lindzie Archer, McPherson, Kan. (McPherson College)
Nigel Bannister, Seattle, Wash. (University of Northwestern Ohio)
Lucas Beasley, Canton, Kan. (McPherson College)
Edwin Buiter, Ireton, Iowa (McPherson College)
Zoe Carmichael, Raleigh, N.C. (McPherson College)
Joe Estevez, West Palm Beach, Fla. (North Palm Beach State College)
Jasper Fedders, Sioux Center, Iowa. (McPherson College)
Connor Hecei, Warren, Pa. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Ethan Heck, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Lanier Technical College)
Adam Hughes, Newman Lake, Wash. (McPherson College)
Cody Kuss, Bremerton, Wash. (McPherson College)
Carlos Leandry, McPherson, Kan. (McPherson College)
Dryden Powell, Council Grove, Kan. (McPherson College)
Alexander Riddle, Kingston, Mass. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Philip Schieffelin, Limon, Colo. (McPherson College)
Robert Schonberner, Omaha, Neb. (McPherson College)
Riley Sojka, Wichita, Kan. (McPherson College)
Blake Swingle, Columbus, Ohio (McPherson College)
Elias Vasquez, Irving, Texas (McPherson College)
Sean Whetstone, Fort Collins, Colo. (McPherson College)
Samuel White, Topeka, Kan. (McPherson College)
Zachary Wiernusz, Mountain Top, Pa. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)
Jace Willard, Palm City, Fla. (Indian River State College)
