During the annual Northwood University Dealer Education Awards breakfast in conjunction with NADA Show 2019 in San Francisco, the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals (AFIP) awarded the Jakob Murray Lange Memorial scholarship.

AFIP executive vice president of operations Shannon Robertson gave the scholarship to Kyle VanBoemel, a Northwood University junior majoring in automotive marketing and management.

The annual scholarship recognizes a Northwood student for exemplary work during his or her internship the previous summer. VanBoemel interned at Kirkwood Audi in Kirkwood, Mo., in 2018. He’s on the dean’s list at Northwood and continues to work for the Kirkwood Audi offsite as a brand and marketing specialist.

AFIP increased the scholarship amount from $1,000 to $1,500 with the 2019 award cycle. In addition to the scholarship funds, VanBoemel will receive a crystalline obelisk in recognition of his achievement.

“The AFIP scholarship recognizes the value that Northwood interns — and later graduates — bring to dealership operations. They have a well-earned reputation for being able to apply the lessons they learn in the classroom to the real-world challenges they encounter in the dealership,” AFIP executive director Dave Robertson said.

The AFIP scholarship recipient is selected each year by a Northwood automotive marketing and management department committee.

“Internships have been an important component of our curriculum for many years,” Northwood department chair Elgie Bright said. “The dealership experience has proven invaluable to student success as they move from the classroom to the showroom. The AFIP scholarship raises the prestige of the experience and helps boost interest in internship opportunities.”