FORT WORTH, Texas — Because the good life shouldn’t be spent in neutral. The Tarrant County College Foundation has secured another scholarship to help students put their dreams in high gear.
Autobahn Fort Worth, a family-owned dealership that sells premium luxury vehicles, has donated $50,000 to establish the Autobahn Fort Worth Scholarship for automotive technology students at TCC South. Ten $5,000 scholarships will be awarded this year.
TCC Foundation Executive Director Laure O’Neal joined Autobahn Fort Worth President Brendan Harrington this morning for a signing ceremony at Autobahn’s corporate headquarters and showroom, one day after the TCC Board of Trustees approved the initiative.
O’Neal praised Harrington for his “vision and commitment” to TCC students. “Together,” she said, “we are working to prepare a skilled workforce that meets the needs of a high-demand industry.”
The scholarship covers full tuition at TCC.
Last July the Fort Worth Chamber established an Automotive Task Force, led by Harrington, to address workforce challenges by connecting schools to businesses, even providing internships and hiring opportunities.
Task force members realize that collaborating with TCC will lead to success. Harrington expects TCC graduates to play a significant role in building a more agile automotive workforce in Tarrant County.
“Autobahn Fort Worth is launching these full-ride scholarships to TCC to help jump-start the growth of impactful technician development programs in Tarrant County,” he said. “Our rapid growth creates many opportunities for aspiring techs to join our dealerships, and we see equal demand from local youth to learn these skills, based on the waiting lists at TCC. We can help make these dreams happen.”
Approximately 400 students are enrolled in TCC’s Automotive Collision Repair and Automotive Service Technology programs, both of which prepare students to be entry-level technicians in a dealership or maintenance center.
TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc: “By partnering with Autobahn Fort Worth, we eliminate barriers that might keep our students from pursuing high-wage careers right here at home. In prioritizing student success, we also prioritize the success of business and industry in North Texas.
“When we educate and train students in Tarrant County, they stay in the county and we all thrive.”
Members of the Automotive Task Force believe their efforts in 2025 will open doors for more local students interested in pursuing lucrative career opportunities. Harrington anticipates TCC being “the linchpin as we coordinate broader technician development programs with the Fort Worth ISD, New Heights, T3 and the Chamber of Commerce.”
Eligibility requirements and application details will be available soon https://foundation.tccd.edu/scholarships/tccf-scholarlships/.
Celebrating 60 years of excellence and impact in 2025, Tarrant County College is one of the nation’s largest higher education institutions and boasts the second lowest tuition of Texas’ Top 10 community colleges. A comprehensive two-year college with six campuses in Tarrant County and online classes, TCC offers a range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Science degrees; workforce and economic development programs; technical and skilled trades programs; and customized training for area businesses and corporations.
