Platte Valley Equipment is a proud dealer member of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (INEDA). INEDA strives to promote the general welfare of its members by supporting favorable legislation and providing various programs and services at reasonable costs. Through this membership, Platte Valley Equipment was able to participate in the Andrew Goodman Scholarship Program, granting scholarships to seven of our student service technicians.
Although this was Platte Valley’s first year participating in the scholarship program, we are excited to announce that seven of our very own student techs were awarded the Andrew Goodman Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. Congratulations to Jacob Sousek, Caleb Obert, Henry Hiebenthal, Jon LaDay, Brett Uhing, Trenten Packett, and Dylan Roach on being selected as this year’s award recipients.
Jacob and Caleb are current JDTech Students at Southeast Community College, who will graduate in May of 2023. Henry, Jon, Trenten, and Dylan will be starting the JDTech Program this fall, where they will graduate with an Associates of Applied Science. Brett will be attending Northeast Community College, where he will study Diesel Technology. All seven students will have a guaranteed full-time job after graduation at any Platte Valley Equipment location.
The Andrew Goodman Scholarship Program was created in order to address the shortage of dealership personnel and to increase the likelihood of younger generations returning to their hometowns to work after finishing college. This program helps dealers from all over the Midwest financially support and train those that aspire to land management, technical, sales, or administrative roles within their dealership. INEDA offers a 2:1 match, up to $1,500. For example, if a dealer commits $1,000 in funding, INEDA will match the scholarship with $1,000 (up to $1,500).
Since 2008, INEDA has awarded nearly 600 scholarships, totaling $820,000. This year, the Andrew Goodman Scholarship Program received a record number of applicants. A total of $80,000 was awarded to 88 students from 30 dealerships across the states of Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Colorado.
In order to be eligible for the Andrew Goodman Scholarship, students must be working for a participating dealer member, attending a “dealer-approved” post-secondary institution, and enrolled as full-time student for the upcoming academic year. Platte Valley Equipment’s “approved” schools include Southeast Community College (JDTech Program) in Milford, NE and Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE.
Congratulations! We look forward to helping you grow through your experience and can’t wait to see all that you accomplish during your time with Platte Valley Equipment.
Ready to kickstart your career as a service technician? Apply for a sponsorship from Platte Valley Equipment!