The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association was named the recipient of the 2019 Marine Trade Association Technical Scholarship, announced by the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Foundation.
The scholarship was presented to MMTA president Randall Lyons Dec. 10 as part of the Dealer Week awards luncheon in Tampa, Fla.
The funds will be distributed through MMTA’s existing William Armstrong Scholarship Awards. Armstrong was a boat dealer on the south shore of Massachusetts and an original member of the MMTA, also serving on its board of directors. He felt strongly that training and education are key elements to career advancement.
“The Massachusetts Marine Trades Association shares our dedication to helping marine businesses train and grow their employees,” said Matt Lodder of Lodder’s Marine and the MRAA Educational Foundation board of directors, in a statement. “We are proud to be able to support their efforts through this scholarship.”
Up to $1,500 will be given to a Massachusetts resident who is a high school senior or graduate pursuing an education or training at a qualified institute of higher learning, with the intent of entering or continuing to work in the recreational marine industry in Massachusetts.
Initially underwritten by the OMC Foundation and now made possible by industry donations, the purpose of the MTA Technical Scholarship is to offer financial assistance for technical training of current and prospective dealership personnel.
Applying marine trade associations must show evidence of plans to offer a scholarship for technical training of marine dealership personnel in the year ahead and commit to matching the $1,500 scholarship provided to the association, should they be selected.
