On Saturday, March 7, automotive industry professionals—from students and technicians to educators and shop owners—were honored at the 2026 VISION High Tech Training and Expo Awards Breakfast. The expo was held March 5-8 in Kansas City, and attracted more than 3,500 attendees.
The awards event commemorated a year of excellence in automotive education, service, and professionalism, and celebrated 23 award recipients, including Jerry Holcom, who was presented with a $100,000 scholarship fund (the Jerry Holcom Scholarship Fund ) in his honor to be awarded for Technicians of Tomorrow.
This year’s honorees inclkude:
MWACA Student Scholarship
- Morgan Liggett, Flint Hills Technical College, Allen, Kansas
- Caidn Williams, Albernett High School, Albernett, Iowa
- Nicole Pasterski, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
- Jadyn Friesen, Sutton High School. Sutton, Nebraska
Tim Cummings Memorial Scholarship funded by Rick’s Automotive Inc.
- Bella Contreras, Brazzeal Automotive, Tampa, Florida
Anthony Williams Memorial Student Scholarship funded by Advance Professional
- Kaya Sezer, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Harvey Chan Memorial Scholarship
- Juan Saucedo-Torres, Euro Clinic, Santa Clara, California
Oz Mechanics Scholarship
- Aaron DeLeon, Precision Automotive, Bakersfield, California
Future Tech of the Trade Scholarship funded by Shop-Ware & Changing the Industry Podcast
- Kaitlin Schave, Tenpin Motors, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Amazing Women in Automotive Scholarship funded by Amazing Women in Automotive
- Monica Baeza, Port of Oakland, Richmond, California
Best Social Media
- Girlington Garage, South Burlington, Vermont
Website of the Year
- Pellman’s Automotive, Boulder, Colorado
Best Places to Work
- Mevert Automotive & Tire Center, Steeleville, Illinois
Radical Generosity Award presented by Shop Marketing Pros
- Brian & Jill Sump, Urban Auto Care, Denver, Colorado
Educator of the Year
- Dave Heinzen, Madison College, Madison, Wisconsi
Technician of the Year
- Brian Rush, Honest Wrenches, West Des Moines, Iowa
Service Advisor of the Year
- Nikki Anderson, Westgate High-Tech Auto Care, Omaha, Nebraska
MWACA Member of the Year
- Melanie Jacobs, Honest Wrenches, Des Moines, Iowa
President’s Club
- Reggie Stewart, Reggie’s Motorworks, Noblesville, Indiana
- David Hall, Quality Car Care, North Liberty, Iowa
MWACA President’s Award
- Jim Wilson, Auto Dynamics, Olathe, Kansas
Facility of the Year
- Full Throttle Automotive, Evansville, Indiana
Golden Wrench Award
- Jerry Holcom, S&S Service Center, Kansas City, Missouri
