The Willard H. DaSilva Student Scholarship, presented by the NAFA Foundation during the Association’s annual conference, the Institute & Expo, is both a reward for a worthy student’s commitment to the fleet profession and a symbol of the support the current generation of fleet provides the next.
On April 20 in Austin, Texas, the NAFA Foundation continued this tradition by awarding Jakob Cormier, CAFM, the 2016 Willard DaSilva Student Scholarship.
NAFA Foundation President Tom Lubas said of Cormier: “(He) became the youngest person to earn the CAFM® designation when he did so at the age of 21 while a student at Georgian College in Ontario.
He has attended the last five I&Es and over a dozen fleet management seminars and boot camps. During these events he made himself available to individuals preparing for the CAFM exam. In short, he is truly invested in the fleet profession, and the NAFA Foundation decided to — in turn — invest in him.”
In turn, Cormier serves as an ambassador for fleet to a new generation of professionals — “fleet natives” — who pursue the profession as a primary career goal.
The Scholarship was named in honor of NAFA’s long-time legal counsel, Willard H. DaSilva, and the recipient was determined by the NAFA Foundation. The $3,000 scholarship was created to honor outstanding academic achievements of an individual enrolled in the automotive or fleet program of a NAFA partner university. Students must complete a comprehensive application process and program of study to be eligible for consideration for the scholarship.
The NAFA Foundation was incorporated in 1976 as a nonprofit, charitable organization that supports the advancement of the automotive industry through the promotion and encouragement of education and research projects. The Foundation receives, administers, and disburses grants and contributions, accepting donations from corporations and individuals, to support the Foundation’s mission and future projects. All donations to the NAFA Foundation are tax-deductible.
NAFA congratulates Jakob Cormier on his achievement and is pleased to see him carry fleet management forward to its next wave of professionals.
