If it hadn’t been for the Daniel May Automotive Systems Technology Scholarship, Elijah Huff likely wouldn’t be in college right now.
Because he received the $10,000 award, he’s pursuing his passion of learning how to repair vehicles and get them back on the road.
A Franklin resident, Huff estimates he was eight or nine years old when he began repairing pressure washing machines and lawnmower engines around his home. He moved on to cars at around age 13, and he’s now one of six students to receive a May Scholarship this fall.
“I’ve always been interested in fixing stuff in general, but I probably wouldn’t have come to college for this specifically because it would have just been out of reach if it wasn’t for this scholarship,” said Huff, who is one of a half-dozen first-year SCC automotive students to receive the award this fall.
The scholarships cover students for a two-year period, which is the amount of time needed to earn associate degrees in their chosen field.
It’s the second consecutive year the May Scholarships have been made available to incoming students in SCC’s automotive program.
“Across the country, and especially throughout our service area, there’s a critical shortage of qualified automotive technicians as lifelong mechanics are retiring,” said David Myers, SCC’s Automotive Systems Technology Program Coordinator. “The need for skilled individuals entering this field has never been higher, and we are extremely grateful to the May Family for their generosity and for bringing an education within reach of so many young people in our service area.”
The family of Daniel May has been a longtime, low-key supporter of SCC students.
The May family has provided more than $500,000 of financial support since launching a finish-line scholarship program in 2019 to help students who’d completed more than 50-percent of their required college credit to complete their degrees.
“The May family’s generosity is touching lives across our college and throughout our community,” said Dr. Don Tomas, SCC President. “We are extremely thankful for the way these automotive scholarships are bringing a college degree within reach of more students, who in turn are filling a critical workforce need in our service area.”
Each scholarship covers a lot more than tuition for a student pursuing a two-year associate degree at Southwestern, where tuition and fees are a combined $1,392 for a full-time student in the fall and spring semesters.
Dillon Becker of Whittier said the financial assistance removed stress not only by covering tuition and fees but with other expenses associated with earning his degree.
“It’s most definitely a blessing,” Becker said. “It’s helping out in more ways than anyone could imagine. … There’s less stress, so I can focus more on the schoolwork and learning.”
One of the most-daunting expenses students face is purchasing tools they’ll need in the Automotive Systems Technology program.
The May Scholarship removes that burden and can also be used to cover their gas and transportation costs as well as books and any other education-related expense.
“It’s very helpful since I don’t have to worry that much about money problems or, like, what type of tools to use,” said Alexis Cruz, a May Scholarship recipient from Franklin. “These tools are pretty expensive, so it’s pretty hard to get them. But with this money, it’s very helpful for me to not have to worry about that at all.”
For more information about the Automotive Systems Technology program at SCC, contact Myers at 828.339.4237 or d_myers@SouthwesternCC.edu.
For more information about scholarships at SCC, or to learn how you can start one, contact Evan Hatch at 828.339.4241 or e_hatch@SouthwesternCC.edu.
