The Valley Automobile Dealers Association (VADA) and its board members are pleased to announce they are rewarding $50,000 in total with scholarships to 28 recipients of the VADA Scholarship Fund for the 2025-2026 academic year. The recipients will be recognized on Tuesday, July 29 at the VADA Annual Luncheon to be held at Embassy Suites at McAllen Convention Center, following a business meeting with keynote speaker Dr. Maggie Hinojosa, UTRGV Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Student Affairs and Deputy to the President. These students will receive a scholarship ranging from $1,000 - $5,000. Since the VADA Scholarship Fund was established in 2017, VADA has rewarded $348,000 in scholarships, all due to the support from the annual VADA Sporting Clay Shoot and the Jon Buquet Memorial Golf Tournament. The dealers and all VADA’s Associate Members remain dedicated to continued education for students in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Fund was created to support dealership employees and their children attending any college, university, or technical school of their choice.

“It makes me proud to see our dealers united in the shared mission of giving back and investing in the future of higher education for the people who make our industry possible,” said Jason Gonzalez, President of VADA and General Manager of North Park Lexus Rio Grande Valley. “From service bays to showrooms, every team member plays a critical role in keeping our dealerships running smoothly and serving our communities with excellence,” he added.

The auto industry is resilient and continues to evolve, impacted by changes in the global economy and new regulatory issues like metal license plates. VADA Executive Director Lexi Buquet said she is grateful to the Board of Directors and their continued leadership and vision.

“The local franchise dealers are passionate business leaders and incredibly generous individually, and as a group, they are an economic and charitable force driving the Rio Grande Valley community,” Buquet said.