BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (BRAIN) — More than 800 women applied for the Women's Bicycle Mechanic Scholarship launched by Quality Bicycle Products and 10 were selected to attend UBI's Professional Shop Repair and Operations Workshop in Ashland, Ore., this spring. The scholarship covers tuition and lodging.
Now in its second year, the scholarship program was created to help women pursue a career in the bike industry. From two scholarships last year, the program has grown to 10 because more sponsors joined the cause. Sponsors included SRAM, Liv, United Bicycle Institute (UBI), Quality Bicycle Products, Pedro's and Park Tool, with additional support provided by Nuu-Muu and the Outdoor Industries Women's Coalition.
Not all of the women who applied are aspiring mechanics. Their jobs range from aspiring mechanic to public relations to shop owner.
The scholarship recipients are Binky Brown of The Bikery in Oakland, Calif.; Cindy Decker of Performance Bicycle in Long Beach, Calif.; Rebecca Erb of The Bike Shop in East Aurora, N.Y.; Regina Jefferies of The Pedal Bike Shop in Tempe, Ariz.; Emily Leidenfrost of West Town Bikes in Chicago.; Lisa M. Olson of Family Bicycles and BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, Mo.; Britney Schrag of Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks in Springdale, Ark.; Catharine Scott of Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective in Salt Lake City; Dorothy Sullivan of Newbury Park Bike Shop in Newbury Park, Calif.; and Allyson Trull of Recycle-A-Bike in Providence, R.I.
