Roman Kortman has been chosen to receive the Mike Molino RV Learning Center Scholarship for the academic year 2024-2025.
Endowed through the Kindlund Family Foundation, the $2,500 award goes to a deserving RV industry employee or their dependent enrolled in undergraduate studies.
Kortman will be entering his sophomore year at Spring Arbor University where he is pursuing a major in business administration with a minor in entrepreneurship. He has achieved a 3.72 GPA in his undergraduate studies.
When asked, Kortman said his passion for the RV industry began by, “being around RVs my whole life and growing up camping every summer with family and friends.” Kortman said, “my dad also sparked my passion for this industry because he has been in the RV industry for his entire professional career. He has worked in the industry for 24 years.”
His goals include, “to one day own a dealership that is combined with a campground.” He continued, “I believe that having dealerships around the country that are combined with a campground would allow for much greater customer service than a standard dealership or campground. Being able to rent and test out an RV before buying would offer my customers an unparalleled buying experience.”
“We are thrilled that the Mike Molino RV Learning Center College Scholarship has been awarded to a potential future leader in the RV industry,” said RVDA President Phil Ingrassia. “Roman’s hard work and determination is an encouraging sign for the future of our industry.”
The Kindlund family, which endowed the scholarship program with $270,000, remains active in the RV industry even after selling its corporation, Holiday RV Superstores, in 1999. Newt Kindlund serves as director emeritus on the RV Learning Center Board of Directors.
“This scholarship is one of the oldest in the industry and we are very proud to have established it over 20 years ago,” Kindlund said.
The Learning Center’s scholarship program recognizes deserving rising college sophomores, juniors and seniors. Applicants are judged on their current RV industry involvement or their plan to seek employment in the industry upon graduation, academic achievement, extracurricular activities and honors, financial need and a 500-word essay on their goals and objectives after college. The program has awarded $82,500 to 33 students since its inception in 2000.
For more information about the RV Learning Center, go to www.rvlearningcenter.com. The RV Learning Center is a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations.
