Applications Sought for New ABYC Scholarships

The MRAA Educational Foundation has partnered with the American Boat & Yacht Council to launch two new scholarship programs, for which they are currently seeking applications.

The Basic Scholarship provides the recipient complimentary access to ABYC’s Introduction to Basic Marine Electric & Corrosion Protection, a four-day course that provides the newcomer to marine electrics with information to get started in this area of marine service. It is valued at $985.

The Advanced Scholarship grants the recipient the ability to gain complimentary access to one of ABYC’s Marine Certifications, which include Marine Systems, Marine Electrical, Marine Corrosion, ABYC Standards, Marine Diesel Engines, Marine Gasoline Engines, Marine Composites, and Marine A/C-Refrigeration Certification. These also are four-day courses, valued at up to $1,170 each.

"Whether you’re just getting started in marine service or you’re an experienced technician, ABYC training and certification can help you take your career and your dealership to the next level,” says John Adey, ABYC president. "With the new skills you’ll take away from our courses, you’ll be able to improve your service department’s customer satisfaction, profitability and professionalism.”

The ABYC Scholarships were founded to offer financial assistance for technical training and certification of dealership personnel.

"Part of the solution to the marine technician shortage is to enhance the training opportunities we offer today’s service department employees,” says Liz Walz, MRAA director of education. "When we treat marine service like a career, we can better attract and retain the workforce we need to improve and grow the boating business.”

Employees of MRAA Retail Members are eligible to apply for the ABYC Basic and Advanced scholarships. The 2014 recipients will be announced at the Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, taking place Nov. 16-19 in Orlando, Fla.

For more information and to apply, visit the ABYC Scholarships web page. The deadline for applications is Oct. 10, 2014. For more information, contact Liz Walz at 315-692-4533 or liz@mraa.com.

About MRAA Educational Foundation
As part of its mission to create a strong and healthy boating industry, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas is committed to offering training, education and professional development opportunities to its members and the entire marine dealer community. In 2004, the association launched the MRAA Educational Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 corporation, to provide financial support for education, training and professional development in the recreational marine trades. For more information, visit www.MRAA.com and select "MRAA Foundation.”

About American Boat & Yacht Council
Since 1954, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) has developed safety standards for boat design, construction, equipage, repair and maintenance. The essential global source of marine industry technical information, ABYC’s product safety standards, credentialing, education, training, and other tools help members make boating safer. For more information, visit www.abycinc.org.

About Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the companies that interact with the boater in their community must thrive. Those businesses determine the boater’s experience and are the leading factor in the industry’s success. The MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those businesses, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit www.MRAA.com.

###