PHOENIX – The Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Foundation announced today Brandon DuBois of South Portland, Maine has been named the recipient of the Ryan J. Guay Memorial Tuition Scholarship. Dubois will continue Ryan Guay’s passion for automobiles and motorcycles by using this scholarship to pursue his technical degree at the UTI campus in Houston, Texas.
The Ryan J. Guay Memorial Scholarship was established by his family to give a deserving Maine high school graduate additional financial assistance to carry on Guay’s dream to become a certified technician by attending UTI or Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI). Guay, 22, who passed away in January 2006, was a 4.0 student at MMI. His passion for motorsports led him to pack up his truck and move from Maine to Orlando to pursue his technical education at MMI.
Guay is survived by his mother, Lisa, and his brothers, Greg and Tom, who together created the scholarship program as a tribute to their son and brother. They now serve on the scholarship selection committee. “Ryan was a dynamic free-spirit, passionate about his dream to become the best certified technician possible, even if it meant leaving Maine to pursue his education,” said his mother. “His brothers and I hope that Ryan’s memory, his generosity and his passion for motorsports will be kept alive through this annual scholarship award.”
Each January since 2007, the family holds a fundraiser to support the scholarship, featuring his brothers in concert. Greg is a classical guitarist and instructor from South Carolina and Tom is a bass guitarist from Maine.
The UTI Foundation’s mission is to change the world one life at a time. "Ryan Guay was a remarkable and generous young man, dedicated to getting a technical education,” says Veronica Meury, vice president and executive director of the UTI Foundation. “All of us at UTI and MMI are thrilled to announce the scholarship winner and honored to be associated with Ryan’s family and this memorial scholarship. It will help give deserving students in Maine the chance to realize their automotive or motorcycle dreams.”
Existing UTI and MMI students who have graduated from high school in Maine and have completed at least six months of their technical education are invited to submit an application and short essay describing how they share Guay’s passion for the automotive and motorcycle industry as well as how the scholarship would enable them to complete their education. The $1,000 grant-in-aid scholarship money is applied to the student’s tuition, prorated over the entire term of the student’s education program.
Existing UTI and MMI students who have graduated from high school in Maine and have completed at least six months of their technical education are invited to submit an application and short essay describing how they share Guay’s passion for the automotive and motorcycle industry as well as how the scholarship would enable them to complete their education. The $1,000 grant-in-aid scholarship money is applied to the student’s tuition, prorated over the entire term of the student’s education program.
“Ryan followed his motorcycle dream to Florida and now he has helped me follow my dream to Houston. It is such an honor to receive this award.” says DuBois.” I am an artist and collision repair is a great way to express my art. UTI is the top school for collision repair in the United States, and Ryan’s scholarship has made going to the best technical school, so far from home, much easier.”
Complete details on the criteria, process and rules for the Ryan J. Guay Memorial Scholarship can be found by visiting www.utifoundation.net.
About the UTI Foundation:
The UTI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Arizona non-profit, is the umbrella organization for all Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) not-for-profit initiatives and is dedicated to raising funds to further its mission and strategic goals. The UTI Foundation supports technical education for the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine and NASCAR industries through scholarships, grants, career development and other special programs. For more information, visit www.utifoundation.net.
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