As we look to the future, we’ll all need high caliber individuals to help grow our business. NAPA is involved in all these activities because we deeply believe in supporting, in any way we can, all the students who are interested in pursing a career in a great industry. The organizations below offer national and local opportunities for NAPA customers to establish relationships with their students.

SkillsUSA

We are proud to be involved with SkillsUSA (formally known as VICA, the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America) as a sponsor of competitive events. There are over 279, 000 students in SkillsUSA. The SkillsUSA competitive events consist of 80 different trade, technical and leadership categories. Over 4,600 vocational students, competing for the distinct title of being judged “best” in the nation in their respective fields, participate in the national event. Several of these contests are automotive industry related and are important to the aftermarket and NAPA. NAPA has been involved for a number of years in co-sponsoring the Automotive Service Technology and the Automotive Paint and Body contests. The Automotive Service Technology event focuses on automotive diagnostic and repair skills of student participants. For more information, contact your local high/vocational school SkillsUSA advisor, or visit their website at www.SkillsUSA.org.

DECA: Distributive Education Clubs of America

NAPA is the sole sponsor of the national DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Vehicles and Petroleum Marketing contest event. This event focuses on the sales, marketing, management and business skills of students and we offer scholarships to the contest winners each year. There are over 185,000 students in DECA (172,000 high school and 13,000 college). DECA’s purpose is to develop marketing, sales, and leadership qualities necessary for success in America’s free enterprise system. NAPA is a member of DECA’s National Advisory Board and chooses to support DECA as a means of attracting bright young adults into the automotive parts industry. NAPA also offers (5) $1,000 scholarships to DECA students. For more information, contact your high/vocational school DECA advisor or visit their website at www.DECA.org.

National FFA - Agricultural Science Education

Since the mid 1990s, NAPA has partnered with FFA to provide 15 scholarships of $1,000 each annually to FFA members entering their first year of a 2-year or 4-year college or university and majoring in agriculture or agricultural mechanics. The NAPA/FFA Scholarship program helps us to increase the awareness of NAPA AUTO PARTS Store locations to more than 495,000 students involved in FFA. This partnership is aimed at increasing students’ awareness of agricultural careers and get them involved in FFA. The NAPA/FFA Scholarship program is promoted through independent FFA chapters, as well as the annual FFA Career Show held in Indianapolis, Indiana in October.

The FFA is an organization that deserves your support, and is dependent upon it. Each year, youth members from each chapter in rural, urban and suburban schools across the United States and Puerto Rico participate in FFA programs. The result is individual growth, with a strong knowledge and perspective of agricultural progress and productivity. The school-to-work principles that young people learn help them tailor their educational training to the needs of business, both today and for the future.

NAPA strives to continue a tradition of service to the National FFA Organization as many of our employees, associates, independent owners and customers are FFA alumni. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. NAPA is proud to partner with FFA to help worthy students achieve their career goals.