MDA Education Foundation

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

Fueling Automotive Careers

To support individuals in their pursuit of a career in the automotive industry, the MDA Education Foundation grants scholarships and bursaries to help with their post-secondary education costs. Since 2007, the Foundation has awarded $807,000 in education funding.

History

HISTORY

Since 2007, the MDA Education Foundation has awarded $807,000 in scholarships.

Since the 1990s, experts have been warning of an impending skilled labour shortage. They were right. Recognizing their common need to attract, develop and retain qualified people to their dealerships, in 1998 the Motor Dealers Association of Alberta (MDA) established the MDA Education Foundation to focus on this goal.

Since inception, the Foundation has funded career promotion initiatives and awarded scholarships annually. In 2002, the Foundation made a $50,000 donation to become a “Champion Partner” of an endowment fund that annually awards Apprenticeship and Industry Training Scholarships and High School Apprenticeship Scholarships (administered by the Government of Alberta).

Purpose

PURPOSE

Encouraging Albertans to pursue great careers

Our purpose is to encourage Albertans to pursue careers at our MDA member dealerships. We raise funds to provide scholarships that help individuals defray the cost of post-secondary education and recognize their achievements.

How the Foundation is Funded

FUNDING

Funded from donations

The MDA Education Foundation is 100% funded from donations by MDA members and industry supporters.

What the Foundation Spends Money on

HOW FUNDS ARE SPENT

The MDA Education Foundation is a registered charity that is overseen by the association’s board of directors

The vast majority of MDA Education Foundation funds are spent on providing scholarships, primarily to employees of MDA member dealerships enrolled in an automotive trade apprenticeship program or dealership management programs at SAIT, the Automotive Business School of Canada (Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario) and Northwood University.

The Foundation awards scholarships both directly (MDA Education Foundation Scholarship) and through education partners who administer their programs.

Foundation Education Partners

For more information and to apply for scholarships the Foundation funds through our education partners, please visit their websites directly:

Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training

NAIT School of Skilled Trades

SAIT School of Transportation Programs

A woman completing an online application

APPLY ONLINE

MDA Education Foundation Scholarships

These scholarships provide financial support to Albertans pursuing automotive-related, post-secondary education. Are you driven to succeed?

Applicant Eligibility Requirements

Enrolled/enrolling in an Automotive Technical Trade Apprenticeship Programs in Alberta or an Automotive Business Management program at SAIT or Georgian College
An Alberta Resident
Employed by an active MDA member dealer (apprenticeship awards only)

Eligible Programs

Automotive Service Technician*
Autobody Technician*
Heavy Equipment Technician*
Parts Technician*
Business Administration Automotive Management (SAIT)
Automotive Business School of Canada (Georgian College)
Automotive Marketing and Management (degree program at Northwood University

* at any apprenticeship accredited education institution in Alberta

Selection Process and Criteria

HOW IT WORKS

Selection process and criteria

Scholarship applications are reviewed and award decisions are made by the MDA Board of Directors on a semi-annual basis. Applicants must have completed the program year and provide a marks transcript.

In addition to the eligibility requirements listed, the Foundation board considers financial need and academic performance in granting scholarship funds.

Note: you are eligible to receive a scholarship once per program year. I.e., if you complete more than one program year in a calendar year, you can apply for more than one scholarship in a calendar year.

Application Deadlines

March 30, 2024 – 1st half
September 30, 2024 – 2nd half

How to Apply

To apply for an MDA Education Foundation Scholarship, please complete our online application form. If your application is successful, the MDA will notify you directly

Have a Question?

If you have a question or would like additional information, please use the link below to contact us.

Apply Online

MAKE A DONATION

Add fuel to the tank

Help Albertans in their pursuit of a career at an MDA member dealership. Support our industry’s goal to attract, develop and retain driven individuals by supporting their education.

The MDA Education Foundation is a registered charity and can issue receipts for income tax purposes.

Donate Online

Special Thank You to our partner, CADA, for their unwavering support of the MDA Education Foundation Scholarship Program.

TO OUR DONORS

Thank you

The MDA Education Foundation’s ability to fund scholarships is entirely due to the generosity of our donors. Thank you to the following MDA Dealership and Associate Members who donated in 2023.

Adams Chevrolet Buick GMC Ltd.
Adventure Automotive Ltd.
Bannister Ford (Edson) Ltd.
Big M Ford Lincoln Ltd.
Big Rock Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 2016 Ltd.
Buist Motor Products
Campbell Dodge Chrysler Ltd.
Centaur Subaru
Charlesglen Toyota
Cochrane Toyota
Computing Dynamics
Country Hills Chrysler
Courtesy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Crowe MacKay LLP
Davis Chevrolet GMC Buick Airdrie
Davis GMC Buick (Lethbridge)
DK Ford Sales Ltd.
Drayton Valley Ford Sales Ltd.
Dunlop Ford Sales Ltd.
Eastside Kia
Edwards Garage Ltd.
Fifth Avenue Auto Haus Ltd.
Greatwest Kenworth Ltd.
Heninger Toyota
High Level Motor Products Inc.
Hildebrand Motors
Hunter Motors Ltd.
Kipp Scott GMC Cadillac Buick
Koch Ford Sales (Athabasca) Ltd.
Lacombe Ford Sales Ltd.
Lakeside Ford
Lamb Ford Sales Ltd.
Lethbridge Toyota
Lexus of Calgary
Lexus of Royal Oak
Marlborough Ford
McDonald Nissan
Medicine Hat Toyota
Mercedes-Benz Country Hills
New West Truck Centres - Calgary
Nissan Lloydminster
Nor-Lan Chrysler
Northstar Chrysler
Okotoks Nissan
Patricia Ford Sales (1994) Ltd.
Platinum Mitsubishi
Precision Hyundai
Rainbow Ford Sales Inc.
Renfrew Chrysler Inc.
Rocky Mountain Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ltd.
Royal Oak Nissan Ltd.
Scott Subaru
Scougall Motors Ltd.
South Trail Kia
Southside Dodge Chrysler Jeep & RV Centre
Stampede Toyota
Stettler Dodge
Straightline Kia Calgary
Straightline Kia Medicine Hat
Sun City Ford Ltd.
Sunridge Mazda
Tarrabain Motor Products Ltd.
Valentine Volvo
Webb's Ford Ltd.
Westcastle Motors Ltd.
Westergard Motors (Drumheller) Ltd
Western GM Drumheller
Westlock Ford Sales Ltd.
Westlock Motors Ltd.
Westridge Buick GMC
Wheaton Honda
Wheaton Honda West
Whitecap Chevrolet Buick GMC
Windsor Ford
Wolfe Chevrolet Edmonton
Wolfe GMC Buick Edmonton
Zarowny Motors (St. Paul) Ltd.
Zender Ford Sales Ltd.

CONGRATULATIONS

2023 and 2024 RECIPIENTS

In 2023, the MDA Education Foundation awarded $84,250 to support Albertans in their pursuit of a career in the automotive industry. Congratulations to the following MDA Education Foundation Scholarship recipients. We wish you well on your road to success!

MDA Education Foundation Scholarship

First Half of 2024 Recipients:

Aaron Cockill
Adrian McLean
Alden Cox
Andrew Chapman
Arnel Rebamonte
Brendyn Woelk
Brisan Green
Brittany Ragan
Brooke Kotowich
Caelan Hopfner
Cary Wise
Ceejay Astrero
Chase Hunter
Chase Muirhead
Christian Casin
Colton Robinson
David Lau
Dillon Wagner
Duncan Kowalchuk
Gabriel Pentney
Hanyong Zhang
Jackson Saunders-McConomy
Jaden Shihinski
Jan Palinski
Jeremy Gavieres
Jerick Odulio
Joel Beinert
Jordan Coquelle
Josh England
Joshua Cockill
Joshua Driedger
Joudi Sijarzi
Kian Lopushinsky
Kevin Gale
Kyle Giesbrecht
Luke Gale
Lucas Morley
Maarten Hoogeveen
Manasseh De Los Reyes III
Matthew Brown
Megan Mullins
Michael Ochsner
Muhammad Saad
Nahom Weldetsion
Nicolo Tuppal
Remor Gamutan
Salem Alsulaiman
Samm Tamondong
Tanner Angstadt
Tanner Feddema
Tara-Dawn Coll-Korchinski
Theron Stoppler
Thomas Zacharias
Tim Rosendal
Tyson Gower
Tyson Williams
Valentyn Khoma
Zachary Rodway

Second Half of 2023 Recipients:

Aaron Cockill
Alex Del Degan
Alex Dominguez
Benjamine Zacharias
Bennett Packard
Cagri Karakas
Cary Wise
Chris Johnson
Colin Ross
Colton Pennington
Darian Klimchuk
David Lau
Dustin Turcotte
Erasmus Katjikuru
Emeiya Leighton
Evan Pillipow
Franco Balmes
Hunter Lefebvre
Jared DuBois
Jason Neal
Jerick Odulio
Jordon Ellis-Kincaid
Jose Litao
Joseph Chengco
Justice Speight
Mario Gomes
Megan Mullins
Micheal Toyne
Robert Evola
Skylar Clark
Talin Matlock
Theron Stoppler
Thomas Zacharias
Timothy Rosendal
Trevor Kooyman
Wyatt Jamieson

NAIT MDA Education Foundation Bursary

Madison Bozarth
Michael Zandbeek
Scott Bagan
Umar Ali

SAIT Motor Dealers Association Award

Alayna Tutte
Cristopher Castro
Jaedon McConnell
Mark Natividad
Tianxiao Yuan