Jan. 22, 2016—VIPAR Heavy Duty announced on Thursday its sponsorship of a Northwood University student during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), Jan. 25-28 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
The student, John Wilson, is from Ramsey, Minn., and is a senior in the aftermarket management program at the school. Wilson will actively participate with VIPAR Heavy Duty personnel in all HDAW activities. In addition, he will help staff the VIPAR Heavy Duty booth No. 118, walk the show floor, shadow VIPAR Heavy Duty personnel, and learn more about how the industry works.
“We enthusiastically support programs like this with a mission of building the talent pool of future industry leaders,” said Jeff Paul, director of marketing, VIPAR Heavy Duty. “As a company that feels a responsibility as a steward of the industry’s future, we are excited to participate in HDAW’s internship program. An immersion program like this is a great mechanism for students to be exposed to all the opportunities available to them in the heavy duty industry.”
“Students get to learn about the industry, their sponsor company and gain real-world trade show experience all in four days,” said Donna Wagner, assistant professor and chair of the aftermarket program at Northwood University. “Students attending HDAW end up being ambassadors for the heavy duty industry. In turn, sponsoring companies get to know potential new employees. It’s an excellent example of how industry and education can work together.”
The HDAW internship program is a joint project of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), GenNext and Northwood University. 21 students were chosen to receive scholarships to the 2016 program.