Collision Repair Education Foundation

Header Right

Press Release

By

SCHOOLS WITH STUDENT MEDALISTS AT SKILLSUSA NATIONAL COMPETITION RECEIVED OVER $900,000 IN SUPPORT FROM INDUSTRY THROUGH THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (July 17, 2017) – All of the student medalists in the collision repair technology and automotive refinishing technology competitions at the annual SkillsUSA Championships last month studied at schools that received grants from the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). The 11 schools represented by the 12 high school and college SkillsUSA medal winners collectively received $916,000 in school improvement grants from the collision industry through Collision Repair Education Foundation administered grant programs since 2014.

Among the winners was David Fors, a student at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, in Fitchburg, Mass., who won a silver medal in the high school collision technology competition.

“Having a student win a silver medal at the SkillsUSA national competition was rewarding to the staff here at Monty Tech and the student gained experiences and life skills that will last a lifetime. The donations provided by the CREF really helps us prepare students to enter the workforce and prepare them for competitions, such as the SkillsUSA Championships,” said David Lelievre, collision repair instructor at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, in Fitchburg, Mass.

Joel Hartstack, from Southwestern Community College, in Creston, IA; won a gold medal in the college collision repair technology competition.

Joel’s instructor Jeff Magneson noted, “Of all the organizations that we belong to the Collision Repair Education Foundation is by far the most valued asset that we have in acquiring donated scholarships, grants, tools, equipment and materials. These donations are vital to producing the quality collision repair/refinish technicians of tomorrow as evidenced through our success at SkillsUSA. With the budget restrictions given to community colleges and the high price of career/technical training – it is more important than ever.”

 “Every school that won a medal in collision repair and refinishing this year is very involved with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and receives donations from us,” said Melissa Marscin, director of operations and administration for the Foundation. “We truly believe the donations the industry provides throughout the year through the Foundation have made a difference in these students’ education and contributed to their success.”

The Collision Repair Education Foundation aims to support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. School grant programs are an important part of this effort, making sure students learn with the latest tools and technology necessary to repair today’s vehicles.

For more information on how you can support the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s grant program, contact Christen Battaglia, at Christen.Battaglia@ed-foundation.org or 302-377-5202. For information on how to apply for school grants, visit the Foundation website (http://www.collisioneducationfoundation.org/school-grant-opportunities/), or contact Melissa Marscin at Melissa.Marscin@ed-foundation.org or 888.722.3787, Ext. 282.

By

COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2017 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 12, 2017 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the scholarships in collision repair that were created to assist deserving students pursuing a career in the collision industry. These awards are part of over $200,000 in scholarships given out in May 2017 by the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship Recipient ($2,000 award)

Kyle Ludwig – Highland Community College (Freeport, IL)

Cody Bayless -Washburn Tech (Topeka, KS)

Angel Paucar – Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN)

Charles Sherwood – Lex La-Ray Technical Center (Lexington, MO)

Garrett Boles – Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (Willow Grove, PA)

The Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship is in its ninth year and was created to honor Lon Baudoux, I-CAR Development Manager, who passed away in November 2008. Lon highly valued education, especially for secondary and post-secondary students studying collision repair. This scholarship is funded mainly by I-CAR staff and I-CAR instructors who worked with Lon at I-CAR. The selection of this award is based on a student that not only excels inside the classroom, but also participates in outside activities such as clubs, sports, and volunteering. The funds go to help the student finance his/her education.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Scholarship Grant Recipients

$2,000: Tina Brown – Moore Norman Technology Center (Norman, OK)

$2,000: Shelby Bouchie – Regional Career Technical Center (Ypsilanti, MI)

$1,000: Morgan Richardson – Hawaii Community College (Hilo, HI)

$1,000: Angel Maturano – Chantilly Academy (Chantilly, VA)

 The Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Scholarship is funded by the members of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees Scholarship offers students financial assistance with tuition and other costs associated with their collision education.

 Collision Repair Education Foundation Grant Recipients

$2,000: Tucker Dagle – TCAT (Crossville, TN)

$1,000 scholarship: Matthew Dyas (Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, CO)

$1,000 tool grant: Bryan Hernandez (Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE)

 

Robert (Bob) Author Smith Memorial Scholarship ($3,000)

 Kenya Hundley – Fox Valley Tech College (Appleton, WI)

The Robert (Bob) Author Smith Memorial scholarship is for eligible collision students attending Fox Valley Technical College. The scholarship honors Robert “Bob” Author Smith, a long time instructor at the school and I-CAR and CREF supporter.

Industry members and companies that are interested in sponsoring their own, named student scholarship through the Collision Repair Education Foundation should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode 847-463-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By

PPG FOUNDATION AWARDS FIVE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – July 12, 2017 – The PPG Foundation, in collaboration with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, is awarding $5,000 scholarships to four students who have demonstrated an interest in careers related to automotive repair and refinish. The foundations have also selected a winner for the $2,000 PPG MVP scholarship.

Each of the scholarships can be used for educational expenses including tuition, books or equipment. This year’s recipients of the $5,000 scholarships are

  • Dylon Cotton, Texarkana College, Texarkana, Texas
  • Xavian Henry, Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Matthew Norris, Lake Technical Center, Eustis, Florida
  • Jeffrey Schilling, Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa

 Sandra Morales, Kennedy King College, Chicago, Illinois, will be awarded the $2,000 PPG MVP scholarship.

“Through PPG and the PPG Foundation, we continue to work closely with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support future collision repair professionals and develop the educational facilities the collision industry requires,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG senior manager, industry relations. “By taking an active role in the education of collision repair and refinish students across the country, we help grow a capable workforce to meet the demand for highly competent technicians amid the industry’s ever-evolving technology. We congratulate our 2017scholarship recipients.”

 

Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and school programs are invited to contact Brandon Eckenrode, director of development at (847) 663-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By

CRAFTSMAN® AT SEARS AND SEARS AUTO CENTERS AWARD 10 STUDENTS WITH CRAFTSMAN TOOL KITS THROUGH THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Hoffman Estates, Ill.– July 12, 2017 – Together, the Craftsman brand at Sears and Sears Auto Centers are awarding a Craftsman Tool Box and tool set to each of 10 collision repair students through the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s grant program. Each student will receive one of three kits containing over 180 pieces each, meant to assist the students in their collision repair education and career. High school and post-secondary students enrolled in select collision-repair programs were eligible to apply for the tool kits. This is the second consecutive year the Craftsman brand at Sears and Sears Auto Centers have made the awards to the collision repair students.

The 10 winners selected in 2017 are as follows:

  • Angel Davila of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Danny Jones of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Tristian Jones of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Milton Peterson of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.
  • Cole Fulp of Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Sale, N.C.
  • Kyle Bathke of South Central College in North Mankato, Minn.
  • Luis Osorio of Lorenzo Walker Technical College in Naples, Fla.
  • Camden Pellant of Salem High School in Salem, Va.
  • Morgan Johnson of Arcadia Valley R-II High School in Ironton, Mo.
  • Walker Graff of Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, Colo.

For additional information about Craftsman tools, visit craftsman.com. Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors, and their school programs should contact Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By

SNAP-ON GRANTS TOOL SETS TO TWO STUDENT WINNERS THROUGH THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Hoffman Estates, IL– July 12, 2017 – Snap-On is awarding two collision repair students with tool sets meant to assist in their education. Each tool set is valued at $3,010 and includes a basic Snap-On starter tool set and a five-drawer rolling storage unit. The tool grant was available to high school and post-secondary students from select collision repair programs in North America.

The student winners of the 2017 Snap-On Tool Grant include:

  • Tom James of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Illinois
  • Heather Lang of Indiana County Technology Center in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Greg Rintala, Snap-On National Sales Manager-Education, said, “Snap-On is involved with Career and Technical Education and has been for many years. The Skills Gap is a major issue in these times and Snap-On recognizes this. Getting students trained to fill these jobs will give them a way to feed, clothe, and shelter their future families possibly for their whole careers with a very dignified job is important. To do that work, they need tools and Snap-On feels very privileged to be part of CREF’s tool grant program. We would like to congratulate the winners.”

For more information about Snap-On, visit http://education.snapon.com. Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors, and their school programs should contact Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

By

COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION ADDS BATTAGLIA TO LEADERSHIP TEAM

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – June 12, 2017 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) announced that Christen Battaglia has joined CREF as Director of Strategic Partnerships.  As a member of the leadership team reporting to Clark Plucinski, Executive Director, Battaglia will assist in growing the organization’s financial supporters, while assisting the organization in ensuring high school and college collision programs are fully engaged with support opportunities. 

 Over the past several years, CREF has evolved from securing and distributing industry support for high school and college collision programs to connecting students with industry employers. With the addition of Battaglia, the Foundation can better work towards addressing the industry’s critical issue of recruiting for its’ pipeline.

“We are thrilled to have Christen on the team,” noted Plucinski. “Her automotive industry background and continued work with technical schools across the country will help bring the Foundation to another level.  As the industry is in high demand of quality entry-level staff, Christen will be working closely with the Foundation staff, industry partners and career and technical education to ensure the industry has high caliber collision programs producing career ready employees on day one.” 

Before joining the Foundation, Battaglia was most recently with ASE/NATEF as Director of Alliance Partner Engagement.  Prior to that role, Christen was Corporate Development Officer with SkillsUSA.

###

The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support collision repair educational programs, schools, and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org