Awards

Awards and Scholarships

Auto Care Association members represent the best of the auto care industry, and the association takes pride in recognizing its dynamic members' valuable contributions to keeping the industry on the road. From educators to innovators, rookies to veterans, the Auto Care Association presents a variety of awards each year to honor the standout people and businesses that are the best of the best.


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  • The Import Product and Marketing Awards recognizes innovative products and marketing programs designed to serve the import aftermarket.

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    Submissions close Aug 31, 2025
  • This annual award is presented in recognition of excellence in business performance and the setting of high standards as an example for others to follow. Such performance may be related to innovative and successful methods of management, marketing, manufacturing or service. In addition, this award may be presented for exemplary volunteer or advocacy efforts made on behalf of the winner's company and/or industry. Award winners must be an AWDA member or employed by an AWDA member company.

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    Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • This very selective award recognizes individuals who have, over the course of a career spanning many years, distinguished themselves through their integrity, unselfish commitment to, and high level of performance within the motor vehicle aftermarket industry.

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    Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • This annual award recognizes an individual, employed in the aftermarket, who over the past several years has made a unique and monumental contribution to the industry and/or the association. This award is perceived as the industry's highest honor/recognition.

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    Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • This annual award, presented in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, recognizes a company or individual for their leadership and commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Winners will be drawn from traditional industry participants including jobbers, distributors, repair shops or manufacturers. Funds from the Art Fisher Scholarship program shall be presented in the name of the award winner(s) to two undergraduate students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University, Midland, MI. Award winners need not be AWDA members.

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    Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • The Import Vehicle Community Industry Impact (formerly Lifetime Industry Achievement) award honors individuals whose outstanding performance, integrity, dignity and conscientious approach to business affairs are demonstrated as a matter of routine.

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    Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Import Vehicle Community honors outstanding young executives in the import automotive industry for their dedication, enthusiasm and accomplishments. This award recognizes the leadership and integrity of executives and team leaders under the age of 40.

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    Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Import Vehicle Community Hall of Fame award is intended to honor outstanding individuals in the import automotive industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness, and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the import industry segment and its overall growth and progress.

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    Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Person of the Year award honors an individual for their outstanding contributions to the industry during the past 12-month period preceding the selection of the current year’s award recipient. There shall be no more than one individual per year honored as the Person of the Year.

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    Submissions close Aug 8, 2025

Leadership and Influence Awards

  • The Import Vehicle Community honors outstanding young executives in the import automotive industry for their dedication, enthusiasm and accomplishments. This award recognizes the leadership and integrity of executives and team leaders under the age of 40.

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    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Person of the Year award honors an individual for their outstanding contributions to the industry during the past 12-month period preceding the selection of the current year’s award recipient. There shall be no more than one individual per year honored as the Person of the Year.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Import Vehicle Community Industry Impact (formerly Lifetime Industry Achievement) award honors individuals whose outstanding performance, integrity, dignity and conscientious approach to business affairs are demonstrated as a matter of routine.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Import Vehicle Community Hall of Fame award is intended to honor outstanding individuals in the import automotive industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness, and accomplishments have enhanced the stature of, and significantly contributed to, the import industry segment and its overall growth and progress.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 8, 2025
  • The Auto Care Association Impact Award: Four for the Future, recognizes four people under the age of 40 who have made remarkable contributions within the auto care industry. Managed in partnership with YANG.

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  • This annual award is presented in recognition of excellence in business performance and the setting of high standards as an example for others to follow. Such performance may be related to innovative and successful methods of management, marketing, manufacturing or service. In addition, this award may be presented for exemplary volunteer or advocacy efforts made on behalf of the winner's company and/or industry. Award winners must be an AWDA member or employed by an AWDA member company.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • Women in Auto Care annually honors deserving women in the industry with three Women in Auto Care Awards: Auto Care Woman of the Year, Female Shop Owner of the Year and Auto Care Woman of Excellence. Award recipients are recognized at the Women in Auto Care press conference and reception during AAPEX in Las Vegas.

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  • This very selective award recognizes individuals who have, over the course of a career spanning many years, distinguished themselves through their integrity, unselfish commitment to, and high level of performance within the motor vehicle aftermarket industry.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 15, 2025
  • This annual award recognizes an individual, employed in the aftermarket, who over the past several years has made a unique and monumental contribution to the industry and/or the association. This award is perceived as the industry's highest honor/recognition.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 15, 2025

Communication and Marketing Awards

  • The Auto Care Marketing and Communications Awards are the premier recognition for marcomm and advertising campaigns within the industry. The awards recognize companies and agencies that run outstanding advertising, marketing and public relations campaigns in the automotive aftermarket throughout the past year.

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  • The Import Product and Marketing Awards recognizes innovative products and marketing programs designed to serve the import aftermarket.

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    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 31, 2025

Education Awards

  • The Auto Care Education (ACE) Award recognizes auto care companies dedicated to excellence in education.

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  • The Mort Schwartz Excellence in Education Award is given annually by the Auto Care Association’s Education Committee to an individual that best advances the concepts and programs for education or continuing education in the North American auto care industry.

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  • This annual award, presented in memory of former AWDA Chairman Art Fisher, recognizes a company or individual for their leadership and commitment to education and training, either within their own organization or throughout the industry. Winners will be drawn from traditional industry participants including jobbers, distributors, repair shops or manufacturers. Funds from the Art Fisher Scholarship program shall be presented in the name of the award winner(s) to two undergraduate students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University, Midland, MI. Award winners need not be AWDA members.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 15, 2025

Product and Technology Awards

  • The Import Product and Marketing Awards recognizes innovative products and marketing programs designed to serve the import aftermarket.

    Learn More
    Apply Now! Submissions close Aug 31, 2025
  • The ACPN Content Excellence Awards recognizes both companies and individuals for excellence in the content management space. The ACPN company-based awards recognize best in class examples of ACES® and PIESTM data standards use and compliance as well as electronic cataloging and content in B2C platforms in the Aftermarket. The ACPN individual-based award recognizes individuals who lead, innovate, and provide remarkable contributions to the ACPN and content management communities, content management and supporting technologies, and the auto care industry.

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Auto Care Association

Scholarships and other opportunities


leadership 2.0 scholarship

One deserving YANG member will earn a scholarship to attend the highly-acclaimed University of the Aftermarket's Leadership 2.0 Program.

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Next Step Program

The Next Step Program offers young industry professionals the unique opportunity to develop lasting involvement in the auto care industry and trade association by experiencing and participating in Auto Care Association’s Spring Leadership Days.

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World Class Technician

The Auto Care Association and the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) work together to recognize professional technicians who have tested and obtained ASE certification in 22 specialty areas.

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ACPN scholarship

The mission of the Automotive Content Professionals Network (ACPN) is to educate, inspire and connect industry professionals who specialize in the management of automotive product related content. The ACPN Scholarship awards one (1) deserving individual, who has the passion and determination to pursue professional and personal growth, the opportunity to attend the 2023 ACPN Knowledge Exchange Conference, which is the largest gathering of content professionals and service providers in the aftermarket.

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Manufacterurs' Reps 2.0 scholarship

One deserving member of the Manufacturers' Reps community will earn a scholarship to attend the highly-acclaimed University of the Aftermarket's Leadership 2.0 Program.

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Women in Auto Care Scholarships

Each year, Women in Auto Care grants thousands of dollars in scholarships and toolsets with their partners to deserving women pursuing careers in the auto care industry.

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