Toyota Let's Go Places Outdoor Scholarship Application Hits 'Century' Mark

Posted on: Sep 21, 2023

BEMIDJI, Minn., Sept. 19, 2023 – Nearly nine years ago, Toyota launched a unique scholarship program to help introduce aspiring writers, influencers and photographers to the outdoor industry, through engagement with outdoor press guilds around the country.  The Toyota Let’s Go Places Scholarship Program just celebrated its 100^th honoree at the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor (AGLOW) conference. It’s fitting that the 100^th recipient be acknowledged at an AGLOW event, as it was this media group’s idea to partner with Toyota, in the hopes of recruiting new, young members.  AGLOW members Mark Smith, Tim Lesmeister and Josh Lantz are universally credited with the idea of identifying talented, prospective members, while using Toyota’s scholarship money to host and accommodate the recipients at the annual conference. “Like most outdoor media groups, we wanted to ensure the growth and survival of our organization,” said Mark Smith, executive director at AGLOW. “This partnership has allowed us to add new people to our ranks, while providing mentoring opportunities for some of our senior members.” Due to the success of the Toyota/AGLOW partnership, other outdoor press guilds reached out to the automaker to secure similar award opportunities.  Today, aside from AGLOW, Toyota partners with the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers of Ohio, Outdoor Writers Association of America, Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, and Professional Outdoor Media Association. Since the inception of this scholarship program, many of its recipients have found success in the outdoor space – via journalism, social media, corporate, agency and governmental opportunities.  Drew YoungeDyke is one of these rising stars as well as the very first scholarship recipient. “The Let’s Go Places scholarship introduced me to the wider outdoor media community, which has really helped advance my career in conservation communication,” said YoungeDyke, the national communications director at Trout Unlimited and a board member of both the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association. “I really appreciate Toyota’s support for outdoor media and public lands conservation – and for building my Tacoma that takes me to the places I get to write about.” About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 33 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 24 electrified options. Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed $110 million to create innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s 14 U.S. operating sites. MEDIA CONTACT: Curt McAllister, Midwest Corporate Communications (313) 318-3906 curt.mcallister@toyota.com