The Automotive Management Institute (AMI) is now accepting applications for the Richard Cossette/Gale Westerlund Memorial Scholarship. Offered in conjunction with the Automotive Service Association (ASA), the scholarship honors the contributions these individuals made to AMI, ASA and the collision repair industry.
Richard Cossette owned Lehman’s Garage in Minneapolis, Minn., and was a charter founder of AMI and a $50,000 Charter Counselor contributor to AMI’s EXCEL program. He was the first chairman of EXCEL and was the recipient of AMI’s Annual Recognition Award in 1994. He was awarded an honorary Accredited Automotive Manager (AAM) designation in 1997 to further recognize his commitment and dedication to AMI. He also held numerous leadership positions on the ASA board of directors and was active in several industry organizations until his death in 2002.
Gale Westerlund owned Gale’s Auto Center in Blaine, Minn., and was a $25,000 Guarantor contributor to EXCEL. He earned the Institute’s AAM designation in 1993, and also served on the ASA board of directors for many years. He was an active member of ASA and other collision industry organizations until his death in 2005.
The scholarship money will be applied toward the recipient’s expenses to attend the 2014 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) in Detroit, July 31-Aug. 2. The show offers a comprehensive lineup of AMI and industry and technical seminars, as well as an exposition with hundreds of diverse exhibiting companies displaying the latest equipment, products and services, and technology available to today’s collision repair industry.
To be eligible for the award, the following requirements must be met:
- Applicants must work in the collision repair industry
- Applicants must demonstrate an interest in self-improvement through management education
- Applicants must own or work for a business that is an ASA Collision Division member in good standing
- If the applicant is not the business owner, he or she must be recommended by the business owner.
AMI trustees and their employees, and the Scholarship Selection Committee and their employees, are not eligible to apply.
To request a scholarship application, call AMI at (800) 272-7467, ext. 101, or fill out a scholarship application online at www.amionline.org. Applications must be received by AMI on or before June 20, 2014. The scholarship recipients will be notified by AMI on or before June 30, 2014.
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