UTI Foundation Partners With AutoZone to Offer Scholarships to Passionate Automotive Students

SCOTTSDALE, AZ--Sept. 2, 2011: The UTI Foundation and AutoZone are joining forces to change the world one life at a time by launching the first scholarship program to support UTI students seeking a career in the automotive retail industry.  One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded each quarter ($8,000 annually) to deserving students who demonstrate impressive leadership, community involvement and work experience through a competitive application process that includes a personal essay and letter of recommendation.

"We are always so pleased when an industry partner makes the extra effort to help make our students' dreams become a reality," said Veronica Meury, vice president and executive director of the UTI Foundation. "AutoZone's participation in this scholarship program shows how invested they are in the next generation of automotive technicians."

The application deadlines for each award cycle are, Oct. 15, Jan. 15, April 15 and July 15, with the inaugural scholarship being awarded soon after the October 15, 2011 deadline. In addition to the required personal essay and recommendation letter, an applicant must be a current UTI student in good standing and maintain a 2.5 GPA and 95 percent attendance record.

"The UTI Foundation works tirelessly to change the lives of UTI students," said Ann Morgan, Vice President of Human Resources for AutoZone, "It is our pleasure to contribute to the success of UTI students who could one day, if we're lucky, become great AutoZoners."

To learn more about the newest scholarship offering from the UTI Foundation, as well as other scholarship opportunities, visit www.utifoundation.net.

About UTI Foundation:

The UTI Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Arizona nonprofit, is the umbrella organization for all Universal Technical Institute, Inc. not-for-profit initiatives and is dedicated to raising funds to support and encourage technical education for the automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle, marine, NASCAR  and other transportation industries through scholarships, grants, career development and other special programs.  For more information, visit www.utifoundation.net.

About AutoZone:

As of May 7, 2011, AutoZone sells auto and light truck parts, chemicals and accessories through 4,467 AutoZone stores in 48 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and 261 stores in Mexico.

AutoZone is the leading retailer and a leading distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States. Each store carries an extensive product line for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.  Many stores also have a commercial sales program that provides commercial credit and prompt delivery of parts and other products to local, regional and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts.