The QBP Bike Mechanic Scholarship Program is back for its seventh year! QBP scholarship coordinators are pleased to offer scholarships for 32 applicants to attend the Professional Bicycle Service Course at Barnett Bicycle Institute in Colorado Springs, CO or the Professional Repair and Shop Operations Course at United Bicycle Institute in Ashland, OR. This scholarship is possible thanks to support from SRAM, Park Tool, BBI, UBI, WTB, Dero, DT Swiss, Bosch, Kryptonite, Swiftwick, Rock-N-Roll, Effetto Mariposa, Kenda, HED, Problem Solvers, Nutcase, Fulcrum, and Juliana.
This scholarship was borne from the belief that the bicycle industry benefits when it elevates underrepresented communities, and that advancing the career development of gender-diverse bike mechanics will help those individuals, bike shops, and consumers.
“Increasing accessibility for gender-diverse individuals leads to a better future for our industry,” says Kaitlin Johnson, QBP Bike Mechanic Scholarship Program Director. “Scholarship recipients gain a wealth of knowledge that helps them serve their communities and helps them to create a more inclusive environment,”
Recipients will receive a full tuition scholarship to attend BBI’s Professional Bicycle Service Course or UBI’s Professional Repair and Shop Operations Course. Additionally, lodging in Ashland and Colorado Springs will be paid for and provided. Scholarship recipients must be available to attend one of two classes, February 17–28, 2020 or March 9–20, 2020. Recipients will receive a small stipend upon completion of the class to help offset travel and meal expenses.
Applicants must identify as women, transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming, or agender individuals who are currently employed at a bike shop in the U.S. or Canada.
Interested parties can apply at https://www.qbp.com/qbp-bike-mechanic-scholarship. Applications will be accepted from October 1–November 1, 2019. Winners will be announced January 2020.
