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Members of the Automotive Oil Change Ass Sponsor Scholarship Fund

9 October 1998

Members of the Automotive Oil Change Association Sponsor Scholarship Fund.

    DALLAS, Oct. 8 -- Members of the Automotive Oil Change
Association (AOCA) are sponsoring the second annual Fast Lube Scholarship Day,
to be held on Saturday, October 17, 1998.  For every oil change performed that
day, participating lube centers will donate $1 to the scholarship fund.
    The fund was established last year to help lube center employees around
the country further their education.  According to Steve Christie, executive
director of AOCA, "We are an industry that depends heavily on young people to
provide the services we offer.  As first-level employers, we feel it's
important to help those who make it possible to run our businesses."
    The campaign, called Change Your Oil -- Change a Mind, offers employees at
participating oil and lube centers the chance to advance their careers by
continuing their education.  A unique aspect of the program is that the
scholarships can be used for virtually any type of post-high school education,
including vocational schools, community colleges, and universities.
    "There are very few scholarship programs available," says Christie, "which
allow participants to use the funds at schools that aren't degree-granting
institutions.  And since so many of our employees are interested in advancing
their careers in automotive repair and other mechanical fields, we feel it's
important to provide incentives for educational growth in these areas as
well."
    Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Automotive Oil Change Association is a
nonprofit trade association focused on enhancing the skills of
national/international fast lube center owners.  The organization's objective
is to increase the knowledge and efficiency of members and their employees,
and to educate the public about automotive maintenance.