Daniel Padilla, of Chicago, is the first Moraine Valley Community College student selected to receive a $2,000 scholarship from the TechForce Foundation.

Padilla has been taking classes since fall 2019 and is enrolled in the college’s Nissan/Infiniti Technician Training Academy. He has tinkered with cars for years and is working toward an Automotive Technology associate degree and certificate. He aims to graduate in spring 2023.

“I’m pretty excited and happy to get this scholarship. It surprised me because I usually don’t think I can win anything,” Padilla said. “It’ll help with school and the tools I’ll need.”

Techforce scholarship winner, Daniel Padilla

Techforce scholarship winner, Daniel Padilla

Ira Siegel, Moraine Valley professor and program coordinator of Automotive Technology, informed several students about the scholarship opportunity. To qualify, students must be in the Nissan/Infiniti Technician Training Academy, working at a dealership and in good academic standing at the college.

“We’re very fortunate to have a partnership with Nissan because it’s provided us this opportunity and others for students,” Siegel said. “I can’t tell you how exciting it is to help a student get money to learn to do what he loves.”

TechForce Foundation works to champion students in their education and into careers within the transportation industry. It creates awareness for the profession and provides resources, mentorship and career development opportunities for students.

 

For news media inquiries, contact Maura Vizza, Moraine Valley communications specialist and sports information coordinator, at (708) 974-5742 or Vizzam@morainevalley.edu.