QBP announces 2017 Women’s Bike Mechanic Scholarship recipients

Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP) has partnered with some heavy hitters of the bicycle industry (such as SRAM, Park Tool, Michelin, United Bicycle Institute (UBI), Jagwire, Saris, Kryptonite, White Lightning, Stan’s No Tubes, DT Swiss, Swiftwick, and Dero) to help promote the role of women in the bicycle industry and to drive the growth of women’s cycling, overall. The Women’s Bicycle Mechanics Scholarship program awards financial aid to women so they are able to attend the two-week Professional Shop Repair and Operations Workshop at the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in Ashland, Oregon.

The Women’s Bicycle Mechanics Scholarship program has two goals:

• Keep, encourage, and grow the careers of talented women working in the cycling industry through the development of technical skills and knowledge
• Better serve and grow women ridership.

Advancing specialty bicycle retail through growth in women’s cycling is another aim of this unique program.

Launched in 2014, the Women’s Bicycle Mechanics Scholarship program has awarded 44 women the chance to attend this special training at UBI – 16 of those 44 are from this class of 2017.

More than 300 women applied for one of these coveted spots, with the final sixteen being chosen because of their proven personal leadership in growing women’s cycling in their area. Additionally, as the press release states, “Every applicant expressed commitment to growing women in cycling, and many have been actively working to make this happen.” Two weeks of hands-on courses at UBI will, help each recipient build a solid foundation of technical knowledge that will strengthen all aspects of their bike industry career.”

The Class of 2017 scholarship recipients include:

• Allison Greenlee – Good Karma Bikes (San Jose, CA)
• Ashanti Austin – The Hub Bike Co-op (Minneapolis, MN)
• Bryonna Baines – Cycles for Change (St. Paul, MN)
• B Vivit – Huckleberry Bicycles (San Francisco, CA)
• Camille Lampel – Kween Kargo Bike Shop (Brooklyn, NY)
• Cassandra Faustini – The Devil’s Gear (New Haven, CT)
• Danielle Fry – Ogden Bicycle Collective (Ogden, UT)
• Danni Limonez – West Town Bikes (Chicago, IL)
• Elizabeth Bejan – Revolve Community Bike Shops (Kansas City, MO)
• Elyse Bejasa – Dashing Bicycles (New Orleans, LA)
• Geneva Balladares – The Bike Shop (Hawaii, HI)
• Kelly Paduch – Rocktown Bicycles (Harrisonburg, VA)
• Laura Solis – Western Bike Works (Tigard, OR)
• Lee James – 718 Cyclery (Brooklyn, NY)
• Sara Ramirez – Bikes Together (Denver, CO)
• Vera Arias – The Miami Bike Shop (Miami, FL)

The scholarship will cover the tuition and lodging for each woman, while a small stipend will be given to everyone to help them cover travel and personal expenses.

Do you know a woman making a difference in the world of bicycles? Let’s hear about them in the comments below!