The Rental Industry Buying Group (TRIB), the Tennessee Rental Dealers Association (TRDA) and the Florida Rental Dealers Association (FRDA) are offering college scholarships eligible for their group member employees and their children.
Applications must be received in the APRO offices by June 10th at 5 PM. The requirements to be eligible and application can be found on APRO’s website under the Scholarship Foundation tab.
TRIB has raised more than $10,000 for this year’s scholarship awards. The number and amounts are determined by a panel of judges in conjunction with the quantity and quality of applications. Only TRIB member employees and their children are eligible.
“I have a great sense of satisfaction both personally, and on behalf of the TRIB group, in contributing to the APRO scholarship program,” comments TRIB Vice President, Dan Fisher.
“Helping employees of the RTO industry and their children achieve the dream of a college education has been extremely rewarding. As a member of the “blind” selection committee for TRIB’s scholarship recipients, it is even more thrilling to read the essays that these young people have written.
I’m constantly amazed at both the level of understanding of our industry, and the desire to help the people in their communities. And, likewise, I’m in awe of the later-life candidates who are often working full-time in a RTO store, while taking classes and many times STILL contributing to their communities.”
TRDA will be awarding four $2500 scholarships to TRDA member employees or their children. This will mark their second year awarding scholarships raising their total to $17,500 for students.
FRDA will be awarding two $2000 scholarships to FRDA member employees or their children. One will be in tribute to Norm “Slats” Slatton and the other to Terry Beville – innovators in the rent-to-own industry from Florida. This will raise their total to $10,000 in the past two years.
The application procedures and requirements are identical to APRO’s and when filling out the applications, make sure to check which box is pertinent when applying for one of these specially designated scholarships. Candidates may check more than one box if their company are members of multiple groups.
Scholarship winners will be awarded ½ of their scholarship immediately and the other ½ at the end of the semester after proof of completing the semester with a 3.0 or better.
For more information, go to APRO’s Scholarship Foundation webpage or contact APRO Deputy Executive Director, Richard May at RMay@RTOHQ.org.
Mike Lewis
Mike Lewis is a Premier Rental Purchase franchisee with multiple stores and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. With 33 years of experience in the rent-to-own industry, he has spent the past 20 years working closely with franchisee owners and previously spent 12 years in Corporate RTO, gaining a strong foundation in the business.
For the past five years, Mike has been sharing his knowledge by teaching managers and franchisees at the company’s Training Center.
Outside of work, he enjoys time with his family, kids, and grandkids, and appreciates the simple things in life – especially riding his Harley Davidson with the sun on his face. If you know, you know!
