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TEACHES logo

The TEACHES scholarship program helps Tommy’s Express team members pursue their dreams of going to college. Team members pursuing any undergraduate or graduate degree can receive money to help them attend the accredited two- or four-year college or vocational school of their choice. Site Leaders, Assistant Site Leaders, Shift Supervisors and Team Members may apply to the TEACHES program. If you are selected, you will receive $1,000 for the current academic year. TEACHES awards are not renewable; however, previous TEACHES winners may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements and choose to apply. They may receive up to a maximum of four awards.

Eligibility

Application Process

Recipient Responsibilities

Award Payment

Resources

Site Leaders, Assistant Site Leaders, Shift Supervisors and Team Members at a participating Tommy’s Express Car Wash are eligible and must meet the following criteria:

  • Reside in the United States
  • Be graduating high school seniors (grade 12) or graduating from home school education in the U.S. with a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent
  • Be currently enrolled or plan to enroll full-time, without interruption, for the entire 2021-22 academic year at an accredited two or four year college, university or vocational-technical school in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico
  • Worked 10 hours average per week minimum for Tommy's Express for at least 90 days
  • Have demonstrated a record of excellent attendance at Tommy's Express
  • Actively demonstrate the "We Own It" philosophy
  • Must be employed by Tommy's Express when the TEACHES scholarship is disbursed

To apply to the TEACHES scholarship program please fill out the form below. All applicants will be required to complete and submit all required parts of the application in English by April 30, 2021. Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Following the application submission deadline date, the Tommy's Express Review Panel will review all complete applications for eligibility. Up to 5 TEACHES scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each will be granted to the applicants who meet all eligibility criteria and best demonstrate their ability to meet or exceed the "We Own It" philosophy and pursuit of excellence as demonstrated by their written and video submissions as described below.

The following items must be submitted on or before the application deadline of April 30, 2021.

  1. Completed Site Supervisor recommendation form including the Site Supervisor's signature. You will need to ask your supervisor to print and complete this form for you. This should be requested two weeks before the application deadline at the minimum.
  2. Tommy's Express believes in a never-ending pursuit of excellence. Upload a 2-minute video to YouTube or Vimeo demonstrating how you love to engage in a hobby or activity that you are passionate about with an attitude of never-ending pursuit of excellence.
  3. Sonny and Jun Essenburg believed that good citizenship should be a core value of all team members. Please describe what you are currently doing/have done in the past to positively contribute to your community. (maximum 250 words)
  4. Describe how you will achieve a work-life balance while attending school. (maximum 250 words)
  5. Official school transcripts of current year. If you are home schooled please follow the guidelines set forth here to provide a transcript document.
  6. Completed Photo Release form.

Carefully review your application before submission. We recommend that you print a hard copy of your application to retain for your records. Applicants are solely responsible for gathering and submitting all information necessary to the application process. Tommy's Express will email acknowledgment of receipt of all submitted applications. All information submitted is reviewed only by Tommy's Express. Limited recipient information will be shared with representatives of Tommy's Express and respective donors/Franchise Partners or other designees. Applicants will be notified of their status via e-mail by May 15. Not all applicants will receive scholarships.

  1. Recipients must notify their college or university about the award and deliver the scholarship check to the school in a timely manner.
  2. Recipients must notify Tommy's Express of any changes in address, school enrollment, or other relevant information.
  3. Recipients will be asked to participate in surveys while they receive the awards and for up to two years beyond their enrollment.

Tommy's Express reserves the right to use recipient feedback or photos in all formats of Tommy's Express publications.

  • Payment is made in one installment no later than June 15, 2021.
  • Checks are mailed from Tommy's Express to each recipient's home address.
  • Checks are made payable to the college of the student.
  • Tommy's Express issues scholarship checks on behalf of the TEACHES program.
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Site Supervisor Recommendation

Download | All applications need to include a completed Site Supervisor Recommendation form. Please download and print this form and give it to your supervisor to complete. Please give your supervisor at least one week to complete and sign this form. It will be your responsibility to upload the completed form along with the other submission items by the deadline.

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Photo Release

Download | We would love to give all our TEACHES Scholarship Winners a shout out. Please make sure you complete and submit the Photograph & Video Release Form with your scholarship submission so we can celebrate this achievement with you.

Sonny and Jun Essenburg

About the Program

Integrity, high standards, entrepreneurial spirit, good citizenship and education were the values that defined Sonny and Jun Essenburg’s dream. It is those same values that are the core of the TEACHES (Tommy’s Express Assistance with College and Higher Education Scholarship) program, which will continue to build on their legacy and their commitment to education. The TEACHES program was established in June 2019 and is part of the charitable arm of Tommy’s Express.

Questions? Contact Us at teaches@tommys-express.com

TEACHES reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this scholarship program and to make changes at any time, including termination of the program. This scholarship program is administered by Tommy's Express Car Wash, headquartered in Holland, MI. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.