Pub. 1 2019 Issue 6

The Big Raffle = Big Success T here are those things that we all know get better with age. There is wine, cheese, bourbon, and yes, The Big Raffle can join that club. Each year the event has grown and become more representative of our member- ship, our industry, and the programs it was conceived to support. The 20 for 20 drive to sponsor high school Auto 2 students was a success yet again. Better was the grand attendance from students who were recipients of the tick- ets. The students were able to see the industry in support of their passion and career choice and have a chance to interact directly with owners and service managers. The Big Raffle provided this face to face contact, and this is something that students capitalized on. Many of the students are seeking an internship, mentorship, co-op, and job opportunities. Through the event, connections were made to help make this a reality. The instructors from both the Career Technical Education Centers and the Community College System were also well rep- resented. Recognition was given to Portsmouth High School auto instructor Dave Lilly for placing second place nationally as Harbor Freight Tools instructor of the year. This year, The Big Raffle saw prior scholarship recipients from every automotive technology program within the Community College System of New Hampshire come and volunteer their time to help facilitate the event. Many of the students were dressed in their program-specific shop uniforms, flying the flag of their school and man- ufacturer-based program. These students know the support they’ve received from the NHADA and know how important The Big Raffle is to that support. Their genuine appreciation was obvious, and gratitude was expressed through the work they did to help the event they’ve bene- fited from themselves. The scholarships that I have received from the NHADA are extremely gracious. What they have done for me has taken a huge load off my shoulders. Having the ability to help raise money for the upcoming college students means a lot. I want all students to have the opportunity to succeed and have the ability to use their full potential. Thank you, NHADA, for giving me all of these opportunities. Garrett — Student NHADA Foundation scholarships are a primary facilitator of our best student’s educational opportunities. Aside from benefiting from top-notch automotive technology education that makes students workforce ready, the scholarships allow many students to start their careers with little to no student debt. This sets them up for success in life, not just the workplace. Tim Hogan — Nashua Community College It is so encouraging to see the commitment of these stu- dents to our industry. Supporting their education and training doesn’t just help our industry, it feels good to make such a difference in a young person’s life. It’s at the Big Raffle where you can really see the results. Donna Gaudet Hosmer — AutoServ Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to win $25,000. Unfortunately, I did not receive the grand prize, but I really appreciate the chance. I loved being able to volunteer and help a great organization. I had a really great time, and you put on a great event. I would love to help with any other events, and the raffle next year. Thank you again. Jacob J. Burt — Student I would like to take a moment to thank you and all of the staff at the NHADA for being such an important part of, and for playing such an integral role in helping the Automotive Program and its students here at Plymouth Regional High School. We are forever grateful for all of your help and guidance during our ASE-EF Certification process, and all of the training offered to instructors and students. I would also like to extend a special thank you on behalf of Caleb Douglas, who is the proud recipient of a $1,000.00 scholarship from the NHADA Foundation from the Big Raffle. We truly appreciate all that you and the NHADA do. Kevin Stowell — Automotive Technology Instructor — Plymouth Regional High School D R I V E 20