The Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals (AFIP) recently gave out the Jakob Murray Lange Memorial Scholarship that recognizes a Northwood University student for exemplary work during an internship the previous summer.

Receiving the financial award along with a marble obelisk in recognition of her achievement was Chelsea Mallams, a Northwood University senior majoring in automotive marketing and management.

Mallams interned at Art Moran Buick GMC Mitsubishi in Southfield, Mich., last year. She is on Northwood University’s Dean’s List with a 3.8 cumulative GPA.

The AFIP scholarship is one of the many achievements on Mallams’ resumé. She also was named the NIADA / Cox Automotive Northwood University Annual Scholarship winner in 2018.

A member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, the nation’s largest leadership honor society, and Alpha Gamma Delta, she is currently the event coordinator for Northwood’s Fashion Showcase. Mallams is also a United Way student volunteer and a TLC tutor.

Upon her graduation in May, Mallams hopes to land a challenging position with an automotive retailer that will allow her to draw on experience to drive results. She earned her AFIP certification in 2019 and is interested in either F&I or broader dealership operations.

Mallams hails from Livonia, Mich., a suburb of Detroit. In addition to her dealership experience, she worked for Zeal Credit Union in Livonia and CARite in Redford, Mich.

This is the eighth year AFIP has awarded the scholarship, which honors an AFIP staff member, Jakob Murray Lange, who died in a car accident in 2013. A plaque recognizing the scholarship recipients is on display in the NADA building on the Northwood University campus.

According to AFIP chairman Dave Robertson, “Northwood University’s automotive marketing and management graduates offer employers a blend of academic knowledge and practical skills uncommon among individuals entering the workforce. They are actively recruited in the industry. As AFIP’s 2021 Jakob Murray Lange Memorial Scholarship recipient, Ms. Mallams represents the best Northwood has to offer.”

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

 “Internships have been essential in preparing our students for meaningful employment for many years,” department chair Elgie Bright said. “Actual dealership experience is key to student success as they move from the classroom to the showroom. The AFIP scholarship supports students in their career paths and boosts interest in internship opportunities.”

For more information about Northwood University’s Automotive Marketing & Management program, visit www.northwood.edu. For more information about AFIP, visit www.afip.com.