SCHOLARSHIPS & OTHER AWARDS AT ROSEDALE TECH

#1 Cochran TECH EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

The Tech Excellence Scholarship is awarded annually to one qualified applicant who is a high school senior and plans on pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry upon graduation from Rosedale Technical College.  The scholarship is worth up to $15,000.

Tech Excellence Scholarship Criteria:

  • A completed application to Rosedale Technical College with a minimum of conditional acceptance to the school
  • Proof of valid driver’s license
  • Completed scholarship application
  • Essay or video explaining why applicant wants to pursue a career in the automotive or collision repair field, what work ethic means to them, and why they deserve the scholarship
  • Proof that applicant is a high school senior,  
  • Letter of recommendation from an educator, coach, employer or religious leader
  • Complete an interview with a member of #1 Cochran’s team

In order to receive the scholarship, the recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA for the first semester and a 3.0 for each subsequent semester with a 90% attendance record.

Explore Our Rosedale Scholarships

#1 Cochran CONTINUING THE DRIVE SCHOLARSHIP

The Tech Excellence Scholarship is awarded annually to one qualified applicant who is a high school senior and plans on pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry upon graduation from Rosedale Technical College.  The scholarship is worth up to $15,000.

Continuing the Drive Scholarship Criteria:

  • A completed application to Rosedale Technical College with a minimum of conditional acceptance to the school
  • Proof of valid driver’s license
  • Completed scholarship application
  • Essay or video explaining why applicant wants to pursue a career in the automotive or collision repair field, what work ethic means to them, and why they deserve the scholarship
  • Proof that applicant is a high school senior, 
  • Letter of recommendation from an educator, coach, employer or religious leader
  • Complete an interview with a member of #1 Cochran’s team

In order to receive the scholarship, the recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA for the first semester and a 3.0 for each subsequent semester with a 90% attendance record

#1 Cochran BREAKING BARRIERS SCHOLARSHIP

The Breaking Barriers Scholarship is awarded annually to one qualified non-traditional applicant who plans on pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry upon graduation from Rosedale Technical College.  The scholarship is worth up to $10,000.

Breaking Barriers Scholarship Criteria:

  • A completed application to Rosedale Technical College with a minimum of conditional acceptance to the school
  • Proof of valid driver’s license
  • Completed scholarship application
  • Essay or video explaining why applicant wants to pursue a career in the automotive or collision repair field, and how he/she thinks they can positively impact their family and/or the community by pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry
  • Proof that applicant is a high school senior, or has graduated high school
  • Letter of recommendation from an educator, coach, employer or religious leader
  • Complete an interview with a member of #1 Cochran’s team

In order to receive the scholarship, the recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA for the first semester and a 3.0 for each subsequent semester with a 90% attendance record.

#1 Cochran making the trades possible SCHOLARSHIP

The Making the Trades Possible Scholarship is a need based scholarship awarded annually to one qualified applicant who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend school at Rosedale Technical College. The scholarship is worth up to $10,000.

Making the Trades Possible Scholarship Criteria:

  • Student must demonstrate financial need through their FAFSA application and a completed financial aid plan
  • A completed application to Rosedale Technical College with a minimum of conditional acceptance to the school
  • Proof of valid driver’s license
  • Completed scholarship application
  • Essay or video explaining why applicant wants to pursue a career in the automotive or collision repair field, and how he/she thinks they can positively impact their family and/or the community by pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry
  • Proof that applicant is a high school senior,  or has graduated high school
  • Letter of recommendation from an educator, coach, employer or religious leader
  • Complete an interview with a member of #1 Cochran’s team

#1 COCHRAN BRIDGING THE GAP SCHOLARSHIP

Ten (10) scholarships will be awarded annually worth up to $5,000, based on financial need, to applicants pursuing a career in the Automotive or Collision Repair industry.

Bridging the Gap Scholarship Criteria:

  • A completed application to Rosedale Technical College with a minimum of conditional acceptance to the school
  • Student must have an unmet financial need to begin schoolafter completion of the financial aid plan
  • Completed scholarship application
  • Essay or video explaining why applicant wants to pursue a career in the automotive or collision repair field, and how he/she thinks they can positively impact their family and/or the community by pursuing a career in the Automotive or
  • Collision Repair industry
  • Possess a High School diploma or GED and possess a valid driver’s license


Award recipients would be chosen by Rosedale Technical College and approved by the #1 Cochran team.

THE EDWARD W. ERKEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Edward W. Erkel Memorial Scholarship seeks to encourage and support African American women and raise their representation in the transportation industry. Out of a population of 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S., less than 6% are women, and even fewer women of color, according to data compiled by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

The Edward W. Erkel Memorial Scholarship honors a veteran bus and truck driver who devoted his career to advocating for passenger safety and the well-being of all long-haul drivers.

Ed Erkel grew up in Pittsburgh’s Mt. Washington neighborhood and operated an independent local hauling business as a young man. He later hauled stone and other materials for Magnotti & Son, Inc., a longstanding company in Pittsburgh’s South Hills.

After working as a long-haul truck driver, Ed turned his love for driving toward passenger travel as an interstate bus operator. He joined Trailways in the early 1960s, driving their famed Silver Eagle coach designed and built by the German manufacturer Kässbohrer. Ed often worked the “extra board” which meant a regularly changing schedule and destinations. He would also accept charter assignments that had him dedicated to a group for several weeks or longer.

In 1965, Ed received a charter assignment from Motown Records to take the Motortown Revue — the name given to the package concert tours of Motown artists in the 1960s — on tour. Among the artist on board were The Four Tops, The Temptations, Martha & The Vandellas and a fifteen-year-old Stevie Wonder.

CHRISTOPHER ZIKMUND TOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The Christopher Zikmund Tool Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship honoring the life of Rosedale Tech diesel student, Christopher Zikmund, who could not fulfill his dream of becoming a diesel mechanic as he died tragically as a result of a drug overdose in March 2016.

The $2,000 scholarship will memorialize Christopher’s achievements and is designed to assist aspiring diesel students in purchasing tools for their program at Rosedale Tech.

Christopher Zikmund, a 2012 Archbishop Wood graduate, was an easy-going individual with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for life. He was very outgoing and interacted with everyone; no matter how long he knew them, he always impacted them positively. He enjoyed making people laugh, loved the game of baseball and had a passion for diesel trucks.

Christopher distinguished himself as a skilled baseball player and aspired to be a diesel mechanic.

Christopher’s passion for diesel trucks began when he was a young teenager. He owned a few of them and you could always find him and his friends in the driveway finding a way to make them look better, sound louder, and run faster. After a few years of college, Christopher found his calling and was accepted into the program at Rosedale Tech.

Christopher made friends everywhere he went in life. He was a kind and caring young man but the one characteristic he will be most remembered for was his infectious smile.

Zikmund-Scholarship Image
student in automative program changing tires