Wisconsin Technician Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association
The WATDA Foundation is the charitable 501(c)(3) branch of the Wisconsin Automobile & Truck Dealers Association. We operate solely on donations that are contributed primarily through our WATDA members (new & used, car, truck, RV, and motorcycle). The Foundation’s mission is to recruit future technicians for our dealer members and assist them with tuition, Snap-on Tools, and employment assistance for a rewarding career in the transportation industry.
The WATDA Foundation annually awards 70 to 100 scholarships to students attending Wisconsin Technical Colleges for:
- Automotive
- Auto Collision
- Diesel*
- Motorcycle
*FABCO, Ag and Heavy Equipment are not eligible programs.
Eligible applicants are:
- High school graduates or graduating in the spring of the year they will be starting technical college.
- Current technical college students that are in the first year of a two-year program.
- Currently working or committed to work in a member dealership.
- Have a valid driver’s license with a good driving record.
Application window opens in October with a January 15th, 2025 deadline.
Scholarships are awarded from May to August.
Completed Application Includes:
- Online Application Form.
- Online Technical Skills Evaluation submitted by the applicant’s transportation instructor, employer or mentor.
- Online Personal Evaluation submitted by someone that knows the applicant personally such as a teacher, counselor, coach, local auto or truck dealer, minister or priest, employer, neighbor or adult family friend.
Evaluations from student peers or family members will not be accepted.
The evaluation forms may not be completed by the same person.
High School Students graduating in the spring of 2025:
- High School Transcripts. If your school does not use a 4.0 scale, please have your counselor convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale before submitting.
- Testing: Send an e-mail to jolson@watda.org to request the Bennett Mechanical and DAT Spatial online tests sent to you.
Current technical college students with an anticipated graduation date no sooner than the spring of 2026:
- Provide your current technical college transcripts.