Thomas Mashig Foundation Scholarship

My name is Lyle Gray, and I am a 20-year-old African-American and Puerto Rican student at Lincoln College of Technology. Growing up on the West side of Chicago, I faced many challenges in neighborhoods where safety was a constant concern. Despite these difficulties, my parents instilled in me values of love, selflessness, and empathy, which have shaped who I am today. From a young age, I learned the importance of considering others’ feelings and treating them with the kindness and respect that I would wish for myself. This principle has guided me throughout my life and has been a driving force behind my desire to help others. Whether in everyday interactions or more structured settings, I always strive to put myself in others' shoes to understand their perspectives and respond with compassion. One of the most impactful ways I’ve applied these values is through my community involvement. During high school, I dedicated my time to volunteering at local organizations, where I helped organize events and support those in need. For example, I participated in community clean-up projects and organized fundraisers to support families facing financial difficulties. These experiences taught me the value of service and reinforced my commitment to making a positive difference in my community. Currently, as a student at Lincoln College of Technology, my goal is to become an advanced mechanic and eventually own my an auto repair shop. My ambition is to create a business that not only excels in technical skills but also prioritizes fairness and customer service. Many people in my community struggle with the high costs of auto repairs, and I want to address this issue by offering reasonable prices without compromising on quality. I believe that by providing reliable and affordable services, I can help alleviate some of the financial burdens that people face and contribute positively to the community I cherish. My trade skills will also enable me to mentor and guide others who share my passion for automotive technology. By offering workshops and training sessions, I hope to inspire and support the next generation of mechanics, particularly those from underserved backgrounds. I aim to share the knowledge and opportunities I have gained, helping others to build successful careers in the field and giving back to the community that has supported me. Receiving this scholarship would greatly alleviate the financial pressures on my family and allow me to focus more on my studies and professional development. It would be a crucial step toward achieving my goals and fulfilling my vision of creating a mechanic shop that stands out for its integrity and dedication to customer satisfaction. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be considered for this scholarship and excited about the chance to use my skills and experiences to make a meaningful impact. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Hi my name is Ayden Powers, I am 19 years old and I live in Modesto, CA. I have 3 siblings named Elijah, Lael, and Kaiyen. Before I decided to attend a trade school I was on my way to becoming a physical therapist, but after a fallout with my parents I decided it would be best for me to attend a trade school in order to better help my myself and my siblings in the future. I am motivated to pursue a career in the trades because I am very interested in mechanical and electrical engineering on all types of platforms. I would really love to learn more about how our power grid and electrical systems work. After schooling I would love to become a journeyman lineman because I love to travel and I would be able to care of my siblings and allow them to experience a better childhood. I also choose this major/career because I have been struggling to stop smoking weed to deal with stress and other problems in my life but as a line worker that is off limits so I am making a valiant effort to better myself and my mental state. I am the oldest son of 4 and my siblings are my biggest motivation because I want them to have a way better childhood than I did growing up. As I was growing up I was constantly in the middle of fight between our parents and constantly going back and forth from houses based on who wanted to deal with me that day. While I was young I was a really quite kid and didn't have many friends due to the fact that I would always be in different cities than where I went to school, many parent told their kids to stay away from me because It was well known my family was very disruptive to say the least. As a result I tried to distract myself with sports walking to practice most of the time and walking back after , I didn't have enough money to pay for football cleats or track spikes so I would use old ones that people left from the year before. As I got into high school my dad remarried another woman and moved away from us but I was till going back and forth between houses until I was about 16. Ever since I have lived with my mom and sibling trying my best to help out and take care of them. This is why I am highly motivated to pursue a career in the trades and can not fail because I have people counting on me