Elgin car dealership offering scholarships
Ron Hopkins Ford recently announced the reintroduction of the “A’s for Excellence” program. The program provides an opportunity for local students to earn scholarship money for outstanding scholastic achievement. Students from across the Chicago area are invited to bring their school report cards to Ron Hopkins Ford, 1045 E. Chicago St., Elgin.
For every A or equivalent earned, students will receive one entry into a drawing to be held on Saturday, July 9, at the dealership for one of three $3,500 scholarships.
“A’s for Excellence” originally started as the brainchild of owner Ron Hopkins in the mid-1990s as a way of rewarding local students for working hard. In the first few years of the program, the dealer received thousands of entries.
“My father started this program years ago and I’m truly grateful to get the chance to offer scholarships again,” said Jeff Hopkins, general sales manager of Ron Hopkins Ford.
As the economy rebounds and the auto industry continues to thrive, Hopkins hopes that student participation in the program increases. This year, the dealership plans to have 15,000 entries in the program, which is open to students from kindergarten up to college.
“While this is a lofty goal, the payout will be huge for three lucky students with an A on their report card. We know there are some bright kids in our community and we’d like to reward them for their hard work and dedication,” Hopkins added.
Entries for the program will be accepted until Friday, July 8.
Ron Hopkins Ford has been serving the Elgin and the Fox Valley community for nearly three decades. Ron Hopkins bought the dealership in 1982, while he and his wife were expecting their third child. Ron is still very active in the business and his two sons, Jay and Jeff, are running the day-to-day operations of the dealership. The Hopkins family gives back to the community that supports them by providing scholarships to students, sponsoring little leagues, donating to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.