Wisconsin EVA Scholarship

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been interested in cars. I was the kid who could name every model on the road and was always asking how engines worked. That interest has only grown over the years, and now I’m taking the next step by enrolling in the Automotive Maintenance Technician program at Milwaukee Area Technical College. As the car industry changes and electric vehicles become more common, I want to be part of that future. This scholarship would help me continue my studies and prepare for a career in the electric vehicle sector. One of the biggest ways this scholarship would help me is by easing the financial pressure of school. Learning to work on cars, especially electric vehicles, requires special tools, equipment, and classes. These things can be expensive, and having financial support would allow me to focus more on learning instead of worrying about how to pay for everything. By receiving this scholarship, I’d be able to get the materials I need to understand not only traditional gas engines but also high voltage systems, electric motors, and modern vehicle technology. In my program, hands-on experience is extremely important. Electric vehicles especially require careful training because of their advanced electronics and safety procedures. This scholarship would make it easier for me to participate fully in workshops, lab sessions, and other learning opportunities. Instead of having to take extra work hours or skip valuable practice time, I’d be able to put my energy into building real skills that will help me in my career. Another benefit of this scholarship is that it would allow me to work toward important certifications. As more car companies create electric vehicles, the need for trained technicians is growing quickly. Earning certifications related to EV safety, diagnostics, and maintenance would make me more prepared for the jobs that are coming in the future. These certifications can be costly, but this scholarship would help make them possible for me. Overall, this scholarship would bring me closer to my goal of becoming an automotive technician who understands both traditional cars and the new wave of electric vehicles. I want to help people feel confident choosing cleaner, more efficient transportation, and I want to be part of the team that keeps those vehicles running safely and reliably. This scholarship would not only support my education but also help turn my lifelong interest in cars into a real career. With your help, I would be able to get the training I need and take full advantage of the opportunities at Milwaukee Area Technical College. It would make a huge difference in my journey toward working in the electric vehicle industry.

If we don’t invest in the future, industry cannot grow, and technological leaps will stall. The WI Electrical Vehicle Scholarship is an investment in my future goals of becoming an engineer in cutting-edge fields like automotive and aerospace design. I have always been very curious about STEM technologies. I loved challenging myself to succeed in the most advanced classes offered in my high school. Although core sciences like physics and chemistry are no doubt interesting, I have always valued the impact of hands-on engineering. Classes such as Project Lead the Way have given me direct examples of what engineers deal with in solving today’s real-world problems. This foundation gives me the confidence that your investment in my future will be put to good use. My most rewarding extracurricular activities in high school centered around hands-on engineering design. As a member of the New Berlin Blitz Robot team, I worked for 6 years to become a senior leader on our team, particularly on the programming subteam, but also getting involved with electrical and mechanical design. As the Technician for our team's competitions last year, I have had direct involvement with the autonomous controls for our electrical robot, built from scratch every year. The opportunities to learn about electrical components such as batteries, controllers, and motors. I have also gained experience with different types of drive trains, such as swerve or mechanum drive. This foundation of mechanical technology, while not identical to automotive technologies in use today, has a direct link to the commercial design and advancement within the E-vehicle industry. As I get closer to attending college, it has become clear that the classwork experience is just the beginning of learning, and I am going to need to pursue additional opportunities in research and hands-on projects to get ahead in a quickly developing field like automotive advancement and aerodynamic vehicle technology. I have committed to attending the University of Wisconsin – Madison for Engineering Mechanics and Astronautics in the fall. I’ve worked a part-time job and summers to save money, but I know this is just a small portion of what I will need for college costs and extracurricular activities. Scholarships not only will supplement college tuition, but will also give me more opportunities to work on student research or in design competitions teams that will help me succeed in this career. My career ambitions are centered around emerging technologies. These industries make it essential to understand alternative fuel options to push technologies in diverse directions and towards unrelenting environments. Electric vehicles are leading the way in future transportation needs, whether this is for a commercially available family car or a specialized lunar rover on Mars. I can not anticipate the future technology that could revolutionize these industries, but scholarships like yours allow my generation to have a chance at playing a role in this groundbreaking industry.

Electric vehicles represent more than a shift in drivetrain technology, they mark a fundamental transformation in how transportation systems are designed, manufactured, and sustained. Growing up in Wisconsin, where automotive knowledge is often developed through hands-on experience, I have seen how quickly new technologies can outpace the availability of skilled professionals, especially in smaller or underserved communities. This gap is especially visible with electric vehicles, where advanced systems require a workforce prepared to manufacture, service, and support them safely and reliably. My ambition is to help bridge that gap by contributing to the manufacturing and process systems that make electric vehicles practical, trustworthy, and widely accessible. I am pursuing a degree in Engineering Technology Management with an emphasis on manufacturing and quality systems. My academic focus is reinforced by hands-on experience in both manufacturing and healthcare engineering environments. As a Manufacturing Engineering Intern at Alliant Power, I collaborated with production and engineering teams to improve efficiency, update quality procedures to meet various ISO and ASTM standards, and support safety and compliance initiatives. This experience demonstrated how disciplined manufacturing processes directly influence product reliability and long-term performance, critical factors for building confidence in electric vehicle adoption. My drive comes from consistently seeking responsibility beyond required coursework. I currently serve as Treasurer and Shop Manager for my university’s Automotive Enthusiasts Club, where I manage budgets, oversee shared shop resources, and coordinate vehicle-related projects. Working in a shop environment has strengthened my understanding of serviceability and safety, issues that are particularly important for electric vehicles operating in regions with limited access to specialized technicians. I am motivated not only by innovation, but by practicality, ensuring that emerging vehicle technologies can be manufactured and maintained efficiently across a wide range of communities. This scholarship would have a direct and meaningful impact on my educational path. As a student supporting my education independently, financial constraints influence the opportunities I am able to pursue, including technical certifications, specialized coursework, and internships. Support from the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Association would allow me to continue developing skills in manufacturing optimization, quality assurance, and process improvement, areas that are essential to scaling electric vehicle production and service infrastructure within the state. My long-term goal is to work as a quality or process improvement engineer in the electric vehicle industry, helping design manufacturing systems that prioritize safety, efficiency, and workforce readiness. By improving how electric vehicles are built and supported, I hope to contribute to broader adoption, particularly in smaller Wisconsin communities where EV expertise is still emerging. This scholarship would not only support my education, but amplify the impact I aim to make in advancing sustainable transportation.