Piston Awards 20 Scholarships to its Fall Class of 2024 Scholars
The Piston Foundation is proud to announce the Fall 2024 class of Piston Scholars. Each of these scholars is a bright and exciting talent with a passion for collector cars and the drive to learn the skills of automotive restoration. The Foundation, with the support of donors and partners, is eager to help these students on their journey through college and beyond. Like other Piston Scholars before them, these aspiring technicians will join the collector car community as part of a new generation ready to preserve the past and build the future.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/piston-scholars-2024-all-post-1024x683.jpg)
By Christopher Perkowski
July 17, 2024
Filling a Need
The Spring 2024 application period presented a unique opportunity for Piston to increase its number of scholars for the Fall. More students applied for a scholarship than ever before, proving there is an interest and a need to get more kids to school with a wrench in hand. With this many talented young people looking to become great restorers and mechanics, the Piston Foundation chose to award scholarships to as many of them as possible. Now there are 20 scholars on the horizon, twice as many as Piston first expected. Unexpected opportunities can indeed lead to exciting outcomes.
Putting More Horsepower in Piston
The more students Piston can reach, the greater the impact will be in flipping the car community’s future from graying to growing. Since the scholarship program’s inception in 2022, 37 students have received a turbo-boost to their career. The recent increase in interested applicants shows there is a much wider world of aspiring auto technicians in need of career assistance. So, it’s time to fine-tune the engines and fill up the gas tanks because Piston has never had a stronger reason to build things bigger and better.
New Technicians In Shops
Piston’s mission is to help solve the technician shortage so the collector car community can continue to thrive. To date, ten Piston Scholars have graduated from their auto-tech programs and are now working in the collector car industry, including Patrick Otis Co., Race Kraft & Design, Okoboji Classic Cars, The Garage Automotive Museum, Paul Russell and Company, Tony’s Muscle Cars, and private collections. As Piston delivers on its mission, this pipeline of new talent will continue to make an impact by adding new technicians to the industry.
Meet the 2024 Piston Scholars
The folks at Piston are pleased and excited to welcome the next group of scholars into the fold. Some are returning scholars from last year, many others are new, but all of them share a similar dream to pursue an exciting career with collector cars. Without further ado, here are the Piston Foundation’s Fall 2024 Piston Scholars.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Annika.jpeg)
San Luis Obispo, CA
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Blake-1024x682.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Columbus, OH
Senior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Carlos-1024x649.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Bayamon, PR
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Cody-1024x754.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Bremerton, WA
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Connor-1024x682.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Warren, PA
Sophomore
Pennsylvania College of Technology
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Edwin.jpeg)
(3 time recipient)
Ireton, IA
Senior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Elias-1024x709.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Irving, TX
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/John-1024x710.jpeg)
San Anselmo, CA
Freshman
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Lindzie.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
McPherson, KS
Senior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Marcello-1024x659.jpeg)
Placerville, CA
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Mory-1024x768.jpeg)
Franktown, CO
Freshman
WyoTech
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nicolas-1024x741.jpeg)
Lafayette, IN
Freshman
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Phillip.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Limon, CO
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Riley-1024x704.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Wichita, KS
Senior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Samson-1024x671.jpeg)
Milford, MI
Freshman
Ferris State University
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Samuel-Povod-1024x683.jpeg)
Palm Coast, FL
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Samuel-White-1024x1024.jpeg)
(2 time recipient)
Topeka, KS
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Tara-1.jpeg)
Fort Mcdowell, AZ
Sophomore
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Thomas-1024x738.jpeg)
Seattle, WA
Junior
McPherson College
![](/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vincent-1024x817.jpeg)
Afton, MN
Junior
Worcester Polytechnical Institute
Spring 2025 Scholarship Applications
Our scholarship application for Spring 2025 is now open. The deadline is September 30, 2024. If you know a deserving student who is considering a career as a collector car technician, refer them to our Piston Scholarship Program. They might be one of our next Piston Scholars.
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Join Your Peers and Make a Difference
The Founders Club is a unique group of car enthusiasts and collectors who are helping us provide skilled trade education and create career opportunities in the collector car industry.
Give Your Car Collection More Meaning
Donating your collector car or rare parts to the Piston Foundation will support the education of the young technicians and mechanics needed to ensure their future enjoyment.
Make an Impact in the Car Community
Join our Partner Program to connect the charitable giving of your business with the grassroots needs of the car community and workforce development in automotive skilled trades.
Join Your Peers and Make a Difference
The Founders Club is a unique group of car enthusiasts and collectors who are helping us provide skilled trade education and create career opportunities in the collector car industry.
Give Your Car Collection More Meaning
Donating your collector car or rare parts to the Piston Foundation will support the education of the young technicians and mechanics needed to ensure their future enjoyment.
Make an Impact in the Car Community
Join our Partner Program to connect the charitable giving of your business with the grassroots needs of the car community and workforce development in automotive skilled trades.
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