PHOENIX – The UTI Foundation Merlyn Plumlee Memorial Scholarship was established to help fund deserving students who want to study at the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. and Orlando, Fla. and continue Merlyn’s passion for motorcycles and the sport of motorcycle racing.
Plumlee, 55, who recently passed away, was well-known as one of the top crew chiefs in the United States and represented some of the most prominent racers in the history of the sport of motorcycle racing.
Plumlee is survived by his wife, Marta. “I wanted to start this scholarship to pay tribute to a remarkable man and honor him by paving the way for young men and women of similar character and outlook to thrive in the industry that he loved so much,” she said. “Merlyn’s belief was that any person seeking to educate themselves to reach the next level should be given the opportunity. He loved helping others attain knowledge and spent countless hours working with all levels of mechanics and riders.”
Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, a subsidiary of Universal Technical Institute, Inc., offers both hands-on training and classroom projects. Students will gain a solid understanding of motorcycle mechanics, technology and practical knowledge of each motorcycle system, such as engines, suspensions, chassis, electrical and transmissions.
Students who qualify and are accepted also have the opportunity to customize their careers with manufacturer-sponsored advanced training for the industry’s biggest names. MMI is endorsed and/or supported and equipped by the top six motorcycle manufacturers: BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.
”The UTI Foundation’s mission is to help change the world one life at a time. This scholarship helps students fulfill their dream to train and become a professional motorcycle technician by bridging the gap between federal funding and the cost of tuition,” said Veronica Meury, director of the UTI Foundation. “It is an honor to administer these funds to help address this issue and give others the opportunity to continue on the path of a man who left an indelible mark in motorsports.”
UTI Foundation is now accepting applications for the Merlyn Plumlee Memorial Scholarship, which awards qualified current or future MMI students who enroll at the Phoenix, Ariz. or Orlando, Fla. campuses an opportunity to apply for a $3,000 grant-in-aid. The funds are applied to the student’s tuition and prorated over the entire term of the program. Applications and more information regarding this scholarship is posted on the UTI Foundation Web site (www.utifoundation.net) and linked to the UTI corporate site, www.uti.edu.
About Universal Technical Institute Foundation:
The UTI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Arizona non-profit, is the umbrella organization that covers 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.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (UTI):
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. is a provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. The company offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at ten campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-sponsored advance programs at 18 dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute,Inc. offers specialized technical education programs under several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit www.uti.edu.
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