The Phil Hill Scholarships were established in 2009 to honor the memory of Phil Hill, America’s first Formula One driving champion and a longtime participant and friend of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The grants are intended to encourage the ongoing preservation and restoration of historic automobiles by supporting students in automotive arts and technical programs.
Phil Hill, who became the Formula One World Drivers’ Champion in 1961, began his association with Pebble Beach by entering the early Pebble Beach Road Races — and winning three of them. Hill also participated in the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, which was initially held in tandem with the races, and his cars took top honors twice — with his 1931 Pierce-Arrow 41 LeBaron Convertible Town Cabriolet in 1955 (it was the first collector car to win Best of Show), and then with a 1927 Packard 343 Murphy Convertible Sedan in 1977. Hill also served as a Class or Honorary Judge 39 times. Hill passed away in 2008.
The first three Phil Hill Scholarships were awarded in 2011, and several scholarships have been awarded annually since then. Funding for the scholarships comes in large part from generous donations to the Pebble Beach Company Foundation from Concours entrants, judges and sponsors. The Foundation has also supported several McPherson interns, helping to defray living expenses while they gain experience.
Meet our Current Phil Hill Scholarship Recipients at McPherson College
Noah Durham
When Noah Durham started looking for his first vehicle, he didn’t like any “new car” options so he purchased a 1967 Ford F100, began restoring many aspects of the truck, and has been hooked on older vehicles ever since. He is now interested in vintage Toyota Land Cruisers because of the memories they spark from family camping trips. “I plan to focus on Land Cruisers and upholstery,” Noah said. “I like bringing together my love of cars and the outdoors. I enjoy the peacefulness of sewing and being creative. Making a beautiful seat out of flat fabric is rewarding.”
Philip Schieffelin
Philip Schieffelin became interested in engines when he was just eight years old and could see how they worked in a hands-on way. After completing his first full year in McPherson’s auto restoration program, he discovered a passion for working with sheet metal and would like to continue honing his skills and making a career in it. “The most satisfying work is making something that someone else will enjoy,” Philip said. “I think that is one of the most important aspects of classic and collector cars. What use is it to record history unless someone can learn from it? I think people are interested in learning history from old cars.”
Q Winters
Keeping history alive through stories and visuals of individual vehicles interests Q Winters. He especially enjoys vehicles that ordinary people drive. “In America and abroad, the people’s cars and the individual stories that come with them are more interesting to me than some luxury vehicles,” he said. “Cars are meant to be used.” He is particularly interested in smaller European and Asian models and would love to work at a shop in Europe someday. He recently interned at a private collection in Kansas City, performing preservation and archival work.
Our Phil Hill Scholarship Recipients at the Academy of Art University
Kelsy Avalos-Keehan
Kelsy Avalos-Feehan, a Mexican-American automotive restoration student, was captivated by vintage cars after her inaugural visit at a young age to the Pebble Beach’s Concours. She is dedicated to learning and preserving traditional techniques of vintage car restoration, while also being enthusiastic about integrating new technologies to enhance and sustain the craft. Her goal is to foster greater female representation as well as promote inclusivity and diversity within the automotive community. Ultimately, Kelsy aims to safeguard the artistry, craftsmanship, and historical significance of vintage vehicles for future generations.
Milos Delic
Milos Delic, a Serbian-American designer, has always has been fascinated by things that move fast and have wheels. Sketching shoes and cars in the margins of his grade school homework is where his passion began. Milos is continually developing his design process by exploring correlations between process and the human experience to solve everyday issues. He is in the School of Industrial Design Bachelor of Fine Arts program.
“Phil Hill was a friend of the Pebble Beach Concours from the very beginning, and he loved cars of every kind. We’re pleased to honor his memory by recognizing some rising stars dedicated to preserving and restoring the cars Phil treasured.”