FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 27, 2019 • KIDS & EDUCATION • THE QUEENS COURIER 37
kids & education
Courtesy of GNYADA
CASHING IN ON TECH
Queens students receive $20K for auto scholarships
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Four students enrolled at a Queens
post-secondary technical institute have
been awarded over $20,000 in scholarships
this week to pursue careers as automotive
technicians.
Th e scholarships were awarded by the
Greater New York Automobile Dealers
Association (GNYADA), which represents
over 400 franchise new car dealerships
in New York, at its annual charity
golf outing at Fresh Meadow Country
Club in Lake Success.
Th e recipients from Lincoln Technical
Institute Center for Automotive Education
— located in Whitestone at 15-30 Petracca
Place — include Destanie Greczkowski
of Jamaica; German Gonzalez of East
Elmhurst; Oliver Zhou of Howard Beach;
and Elias Soto of Yonkers. Th e four students
received $5,000 each to further
their education and enter the industry,
likely at franchise dealerships in the New
York area.
“Th ey are the future of our industry
and it is looking very bright indeed,” said
Mark Schienberg, president of GNYADA.
“Th ese students have worked so hard to
achieve the level of skills that are critical
to be in the auto industry. GYNADA and
its member dealers are proud to support
the education of so many talented young
people at Lincoln Tech.”
Th e members of GNYADA support
nearly 70,000 jobs and generate nearly
$50 billion in economic activity. Th e
association works to help and inform consumers
about the purchasing and servicing
options available to them. It also promotes
education and training and creates
job opportunities for young people interested
in pursuing careers in the automotive
business.
Since creating the scholarship program
in 2005, GNYADA has raised more than
$1 million on behalf of automotive education.
Funds are raised at the tournament
through the generosity of franchise new
car dealers, sponsors and others.
Herman Dawkins, president of Lincoln
Tech, said the scholarship for students is
life-changing and the opportunities are
limitless.
“When I started, anyone with a screwdriver
and a pair of pliers could work on a
car,” said Dawkins. “It’s not like that anymore.
Technology is so advanced that you
need to have specialized technical training.”
All of the students plan to pursue
careers as auto technicians at new car
dealerships in the metro New York area.
It is estimated that some 46,000 jobs are
opening up in the industry, according to
GNYADA.
“I’m so excited to begin my career in
an area that I’m truly passionate about,”
said Soto. “My particular focus has been
in electronics, the high-tech components
that are such an integral part of today’s
cars. I hope to use that knowledge to build
a long-term career at a dealership fi xing
cars today and into the future.”
Since he was a kid, Gonzalez’s love for
cars never dwindled.
“I had cars under my bed, everywhere,”
said Gonzalez. “I’m so glad I found this
school. My parents are proud of me
because I’m really doing what I like.”
“I really feel like this is going to change
my life and really enable me to do what I
love,” said Zhou. “In New York, there are
so many opportunities, so many dealerships,
so many jobs and so much opportunity
for growth.”
Greczkowski, who is a mother, said the
scholarship will not just benefi t her career
goals, but also her son and family as well.
“I’m really hoping that if my son sees
me going aft er what I want to do, that
will encourage him in the future, and
he will go aft er the things he loves,” said
Greczkowski.
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