Photo byCourtesy of Bill Neale

- Call For Entries for U.S. high school students grades 9-12. Entries open September 21, 2023.

- Award Honors World-Renowned Dallas-based artist Bill Neale, who passed away in 2021

- This event benefits Dallas youth pursuing technical transportation careers and supports the TechForce Foundation

Photo byMecum

Calling all high school art students! 

The Carroll Shelby Foundation, Mecum Auctions, Terlingua Racing Team, and Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) are pleased to officially launch the Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students at Mecum Dallas 2023! 

The Texas Auto Writers Association is honored to host the inaugural Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students. Bill Neale was a longtime friend to TAWA and we’re so thankful to the Neale family for their support in developing this prestigious award honoring such a talented artist and icon in the automotive industry. We also thank our fellow co-sponsors for their generous support. - Teia Collier, Texas Auto Writers Association President

The award, benefitting TechForce Foundation, honors world-renowned automotive artist Bill Neale by recognizing and encouraging excellence in automotive fine art among high school students. Neale passed away in 2021 at the age of 95.

Photo byTerlinua Racing Team

The Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Award for High School Students is open to U.S. high school students from 9th to 12th grade. First, second, and third-place prizes will be awarded. The competition focuses on the traditional fine art mediums Neale so skillfully mastered. Much of his artwork depicted sports cars in motion with colorful skies, and one iconic figure in particular often appeared in his artwork: his close friend and legendary racer and automotive manufacturer Carroll Shelby.

Mecum Auctions is pleased to partner with The Carroll Shelby Foundation, Terlingua Racing Team and Texas Auto Writers Association to recognize the artistic brilliance of Bill Neale while also supporting the creativity of high school students and their pursuits in the auto tech industry. - Dave Magers, CEO of Mecum Auctions.

Along with inspiring future automotive artists, the award will also be donated to benefit TechForce Foundation. This national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization aims to champion students to and through their education and into careers as professional technicians. This year, TechForce will award $2.3 million in scholarships and grants for students to obtain technical education in several transportation careers, including auto, aviation, and motorsports.

The Neale Family is so excited to launch The Bill Neale Art Award for High School Students! Our dad, Bill, started drawing at the age of five, became an art teacher before going into advertising and melded his passion for art and love of all things fast into a renowned career. We’re excited to help inspire the next generation to do the same! He would have been so thrilled to support TechForce as he so believed in bettering oneself through education, determination and hard work. We can’t wait to see all the talent! - Leslie Neale, Terlingua Racing Team and the daughter of Bill Neale

The Bill Neale Automotive Fine Art Automotive Art Award for High School Students would not be possible without the generous support of the following sponsors: The Carroll Shelby Foundation, Mecum Auctions, Terlingua Racing Team, and the Texas Auto Writers Association.

Photo byTerlinua Racing Team

For competition rules, please visit the award's official website: www.billnealeaward.org.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian and rodeo, magazine features, and millionaire travel. 

 Share your thoughts and stories at dp1@sawyertms.com.