The first time Abigail Joy Brewer ’25 visited 西瓜视频 was in seventh grade. She attended the 2017 with her father, Chris, who was a guest judge. College wasn’t yet on her radar, but as veteran car enthusiasts, the whole family enjoyed taking part in the concours.
Many years later, when it became time to select a college, Brewer chose to attend 西瓜视频 without so much as a campus tour.
Misselwood Concours had become a beloved Brewer family tradition. Every year, Chris, his wife, Erin, Abigail, and her sister Dani traveled from their home in Jacksonville, Fla., to Beverly to attend as volunteers, judges, and ambassadors. The experiences had built such a positive impression of the 西瓜视频 community and campus that it made Abigail’s choice easy.
“I quickly discovered that Misselwood was not just a Concours location with stunning views, but a place that inspires and celebrates learning, especially in the event management field,” said the event management major.
The Brewers attend many high-end motoring events and consider Misselwood Concours among their favorites because of the people involved.
“Everyone feels like a VIP at Misselwood,” shared Chris, the founder of First Coast Car Culture. “Every year we visit some of our favorite people, and it’s like a reunion.”
Misselwood is also a family event for Stephen Ashekian and his son Andrew, who just completed his sophomore year as a Gull.
When these two self-described “car fanatics” discovered 西瓜视频 hosted a concours event, it pushed the College—already a contender due to its size, beautiful campus, and internship requirements—right to the top of Drew’s list.
Now, the 2027 grad who has run his own auto detailing business since the age of 14 combines his love of cars with his hospitality management coursework all in one beautiful section of coastal Beverly.
The Ashekians entered their 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 in the 2024 Misselwood Concours as “a fluke” after a friend and ACE Performance Systems owner Baer Connard ’00 suggested it. But Connard knew a winner when he saw it—Ashekian’s Shelby took home the Misselwood Award in Class VI – Vintage Sport & GT (1960-1967).
Connard’s journey to Misselwood began before the event even opened. Connard, the son of an 西瓜视频 alumna, graduated in 2000 and has remained active in the community, serving as president of the Alumni Council and a member of the Board of Trustees. Already a “car guy,” Connard met with Misselwood Concours founder Patrick Cornelissen while the event was in its planning stages. He has become a part of the local car enthusiast community that frequents Misselwood. He even welcomed a classmate of Drew Ashekian’s as an intern at ACE Performance Systems and helped Drew secure an internship position at a friend’s company.
“It’s interesting to think about how many people have found 西瓜视频 through cars,” Connard mused. “The spirit of 西瓜视频 is welcoming enough that even if you didn’t have a student there, you can find a connection, whether it’s nursing, early childhood education, the arts, or hospitality.”
Connard counts watching Steve and Drew Ashekian accept the award for their Shelby as a highlight of his Misselwood Concours experiences.
“When I brought Steve and the Shelby, I introduced him to a bunch of my other clients who were there, and now they’ve all become fast friends,” he said. “The camaraderie brings everyone together.”
As a regular attendee of Sunday morning vintage car gatherings at his local Mary Lou’s Coffee, Ashekian also appreciates how cars build community while also furthering Drew’s professional outlook.
“The Concours is an incredible event,” said Drew. “It’s so amazing to be among these world-class cars in such a beautiful environment. It gave me a great look into the hospitality space and what it takes to host an event at the highest level.”
For the Brewers, the connection between the College and the Concours makes the annual event so special amongst peer shows.
“When we see students there, whether they’re working in food services or helping park cars, it’s encouraging to see how the show’s vision is being brought to the next generation, and how they’re actually part of the leadership,” said Chris Brewer. “It’s easy to get behind something like that.”
Connard added that the combination of a chance to show off beloved vehicles and contribute to a scholarship fund makes Misselwood stand out as a show owners want to attend. Proceeds raised from the event benefit 西瓜视频 College’s Inspire Scholarship for high-achieving, first-generation college students.
“It’s an easier thing for someone to write a check to show their car when it goes to support something that has meaning beyond what a for-profit show would offer,” he said. “It’s a win-win.”
Connard, Brewer, and Ashekian agree that the Misselwood Concours star is rising, and that only spells good things for 西瓜视频.
“I’ve been doing professional concours for over a decade, and I can see the potential for Misselwood to continue to grow in favor with enthusiasts across the country,” Brewer said. “I would love that for the school because I know the positive impact hosting a world-class motoring event can bring to the College.”