The Piston Foundation has doubled its annual scholarship program, awarding 60 scholarships totaling $160,000 for the 2026–27 academic year. The announcement marks the Greenwich, Connecticut-based nonprofit’s fifth year of establishing career pathways in the collector car industry.
The 2026 scholarship recipients were selected from an applicant pool of 365 participants across 41 states and 100 schools. The selected scholars represent 19 states and will attend 15 colleges and technical schools across the country.
Funding for the expanded program came through increased philanthropic contributions, including a $75,000 grant from the LuLuMa Foundation. Additional funding was raised through individual donors and proceeds from collector car auctions hosted with Bring a Trailer and 1600Veloce.
Jeff Mason, president of the Piston Foundation, noted that young people remain deeply interested in classic and collector cars. He stated that aspiring technicians simply need established pathways to pursue careers in automotive preservation.
Since launching the scholarship program in 2022, the organization has distributed 144 scholarships totaling $425,000. Program graduates are currently employed at restoration shops, museums, auction houses, and private collections.
Nearly half of the current scholarship class will attend McPherson College, which offers a bachelor’s degree program in Automotive Restoration Technology. The foundation is also launching Piston Jobs, a new initiative designed to help connect graduates directly with employers in the automotive field.
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