On Thursday, the Association of Finance & Insurance Professionals (AFIP) announced the recipient of the $2,000 Jakob Murray Lange Memorial scholarship, which honors AFIP staff member Jakob Murray Lange, who died in a car accident in 2013.

Now in its ninth year, the funds and an engraved crystal sculpture commemorating the achievement was given to Jovana Petkovich, a Northwood University senior majoring in automotive marketing and management.

According to a news release, the annual scholarship recognizes a Northwood student for exemplary work during an internship the previous summer.

AFIP highlighted Petkovich interned with Penske Automotive Group as a 10-week rotational intern in 2021, learning the front and back end of a dealership. According to Petkovich, “It was after this internship that I realized I wanted to be a general manager.”

Petkovich is currently working a coop internship at GP Strategies, working as a digital dealer performance evaluator for regional Chevy, GMC/Buick and Cadillac dealerships, while continuing her studies as a full-time student.

Petkovich is also this year’s fundraising chair for the Northwood University International Auto Show.

Upon earning her bachelor’s degree in business administration in May, she’ll begin work on a master’s degree in management. Her long-range plans are to advance up the dealership hierarchy to the position of general manager before she turns 30.

Petkovich hails from Rochester Hills, Mich. Her post-master’s job search will focus on out-of-state opportunities.

Petkovich will be added to a plaque recognizing the scholarship recipients that’s on display in the NADA building on the Northwood University campus.

“Dealers know Northwood University’s automotive marketing and management graduates bring a blend of academic knowledge and practical skills uncommon among individuals entering the workforce, so they’re actively recruited in the industry AFIP chairman Dave Robertson said in the news release.

“As AFIP’s 2022 Jakob Murray Lange Memorial Scholarship recipient, Ms. Petkovich represents the best Northwood has to offer,” Robertson continued.

The AFIP scholarship recipient is selected each year by a Northwood automotive marketing and management department committee.

“Internships have been essential in preparing our students for automotive management careers for many years,”, Northwood department chair Elgie Bright said.

“In-store experience is key to our students’ success as they move from the classroom to the dealership. The AFIP scholarship supports students in their career paths and boosts interest in internship opportunities,” Bright went on to say.

For more information about Northwood University’s automotive marketing and management program, visit www.northwood.edu. For more information about AFIP, visit www.afip.com.