The California New Car Dealers Association Scholarship Foundation is providing more than $100,000 to students seeking out automotive technology careers through its annual CAR CAREERS Scholarship Program; the winners of which it announced this week.

The dealer association’s scholarship program selected honorees after evaluating applicants’ academic performances, career interests and industry experience.

The foundation’s board chose the top four candidates from each of California’s five regions. Those 20 grand recipients were awarded $5,000 each for education and training expenses.

The board selected the overall winner — Vincent Lagasca — as the overall winner. He received an additional $5,000 as part of the Peter K. Welch Honorary Scholarship.

“We were very impressed with the students who applied for this scholarship program and are proud to be able to support them as they pursue promising careers in the auto tech industry,” said Brian Maas, who is president of CNCDA and the vice president of the CNCDA Scholarship Foundation.

Added CNCDA Scholarship Foundation chairperson Cheryl Bedford: “We want to help encourage more and more students to think about the automotive industry as an attractive career option. We believe this scholarship program will help not only support the students who win, but will also serve as a tool to increase interest and awareness about the industry.”