A Manchester high school student was named as one of the first four 2012 Buick Achievers Scholarship Program recipients. Melissa Rey, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School, received a scholarship of up to $25,000 that is renewable for up to four years.
The nearly $9 million scholarship program launched by Buick and the General Motors Foundation in 2011 rewards 2,200 outstanding students from across the country who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and community but lack the financial resources to attend college. Eligibility was expanded this year from first-time college attenders to include current undergraduate students
“With US student loan debt now totaling more than $1 trillion, the impact the Buick Achievers Scholarship will have on these students is immeasurable,” said Vivian Pickard, president, GM Foundation. “They will have the freedom to attend and excel in college without the financial pressures most students face.”
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Rey hopes to major in engineering technology to combine her love of cars with her passion for problem solving. She volunteered for the Special Olympics, as an Earth Day coordinator and on her high school’s Green Team. For the past three years, Rey has designed and coordinated a Summer Science Camp for Girls that helps underprivileged girls break the cycle of poverty through education and developing their passion for science. In addition to her volunteer work, Rey is active in her high school’s drama department using her engineering skills to design and built sets for plays.
“I had all of these big dreams when I was thinking about applying to college, but reality set in when I started to review the costs,” said Rey. “Receiving this Buick Achievers Scholarship means that I don’t have to worry about tuition and can focus on my school work and the ability to conduct research outside of school.”
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"The combination of community involvement and passion for math and science exhibited by these Buick Achiever Scholarship recipients demonstrates the core values and beliefs upon which this unique scholarship was founded,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president, Buick Marketing. “By providing Melissa with a scholarship to study engineering technology, we hope to pave the way for her to become one of tomorrow’s innovators.”
The 2012 Buick Achievers Scholarship Program provides up to $25,000 a year to 100 students, renewable for up to four years and one additional year for qualified five-year engineering programs. An additional 1,000 students receive a one-time $2,000 award.
Eligibility for the 2012-13 Buick Achievers Scholarship required applicants to be high school seniors, high school graduates or current undergraduate students; planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire 2012-13 academic year; and demonstrating an interest in the automotive industry. Applicants had to be U.S. citizens and have permanent residence in the United States. Applications are closed for the 2012-13 academic year. For more information about the program, or to register for e-mail notification when the next application window opens, visit www.buickachievers.com.
The complete 2012 class of Buick Achiever Scholarship Program recipients will be announced in June.
About the GM Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to deserving American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.