Taking a Look at Past NextMile Scholarship Winners

“Education is a clear path to ensuring that those in our MileOne families advance their careers, whether it be in the automotive industry or otherwise. When we launched this program six years ago, we had aspirations that it would be well received, and the results have proven that.”     - Steve Fader, MileOne CEO

In 2019, 39 new recipients were awarded the NextMile Scholarship while 60 recipients received renewal awards – a total of 99 students. Since the program’s inception in 2014, MileOne has surpassed $1 million in grants and provided 240 scholarships to students who want to pursue their educational goals.

We hope that you and your immediate family members continue to pursue your education by applying for the NextMile Scholarship next spring.

We reached out to two students who received the NextMile Scholarship throughout their college career to see how it affected them and where they are now.

Kaitlin Korgeski graduated earlier this year from Monmouth University in New Jersey with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, Public Relations and Journalism. By staying in her college town of West Long Branch, New Jersey, Kaitlin now has a paid public relations internship with R&J Strategic Communications. Kaitlin is excited about the opportunity and is optimistic she will be offered a full-time position with the company when her internship has been completed.

Kaitlin was a recipient of the NextMile Scholarship four years in a row and recently shared that the scholarship funds were very helpful to her because it made school more affordable.

Kaitlin’s fondest college memory was having the Atlantic Ocean right outside her window when she lived in her school-owned apartment. When she wasn’t in class, she would walk 100 feet to the beach nearly every day.

Rachel Blevins graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and Anthropology. She is currently living in Alamosa, Colorado while working for Adams State University leading their outdoor program. Rachel was also a recipient of the NextMile Scholarship four years in a row, and is very grateful for the financial help the scholarships provided.

We recently asked Rachel to share what her fondest memory of college was. She told us that it was being accepted into a 6-month internship program in South Korea with the Korean Ministry of Education. The program was called the Teach and Learn in Korea Program where she spent time working at a rural elementary school outside of the city of Jeongeup-ssi as their English Teacher and Club Coordinator. As part of her job, she planned and taught English lessons during school and also ran the after school English Club for students. The program was structured to provide underprivileged students the opportunity to study a foreign language at a public institution. In her spare time, she was able to travel all over South Korea. One of Rachel’s favorite memories in Korea was the opportunity to be a spectator at the 2018 Winter Olympics!

Without the scholarship, Rachel would not have had the opportunity to pursue a study abroad program. The scholarship was able to supplement costs that otherwise would have made paying for the semester abroad very challenging.