Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 19, 2017) – The 2017 grant and scholarship application period is now open to high school and post-secondary collision students who will be attending career and technical schools and colleges in the fall. The Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) and its industry supporters offer over $200,000 in grants and scholarships annually, as part of their mission to promote collision repair education and create quality candidates for entry level job opportunities. This year’s opportunities include the following:
3M Hire Our Heroes Veteran Scholarships & Tool Grants
ABRA Auto Body & Glass Tool Grants
Atlanta I-CAR Committee Scholarships
Bob Smith Memorial Golf Outing Scholarships
Caliber Collision Tool Grants
CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student Repair Technician Scholarships
Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Scholarships
Craftsman Tool Grants
The Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarships
Nashville I-CAR Committee Scholarship
PPG Automotive Refinish Scholarships
Snap-On Tool Grants
Tim Clark Memorial Scholarships
Application information for CREF grants and scholarships is posted on their website, www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org. This year’s deadline to apply is February 21, 2017, and winners are chosen and notified by phone or mail in April and May.
Alex Aslanis, a recipient of one of last year’s 3M Hire Our Heroes Veteran Scholarships and Tool Grants said, The Grant helped me by providing me with tools that I could almost never afford on my own. When I got out of the Marine Corps, finding a job was extremely difficult. For a while, I was homeless. With the level of education that I achieved and the tools I was provided by the 3M Hire our Heroes Veteran Scholarships & Tool Grant, I have been able to get a job in the automotive field and stay ahead in life! I couldn’t be happier.”
Melissa Marscin, Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Grant Programs, said, “We are proud to continue our scholarship and grant program for 2017 and we thank those companies that are sponsoring awards this year. We could not offer over $200,000 in awards this year without their continued support. I encourage all students to consider applying as the awards can be life-changing in terms of graduating without debt or with a tool box ready for employment.”
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.
Destiny Potter, who was awarded the Lon Baudoux Scholarship in 2016, said, “The Lon Baudoux Scholarship showed me that someone believed in me. More specifically, the staff at CREF and their volunteers believed in me. This honored scholarship strengthened my passion to be in the collision repair industry, and my desire to achieve my goals. I can’t begin to explain my gratitude towards anyone who had a part in the Lon Baudoux Scholarship, but I will start by saying thank you.”
For more information, contact Melissa Marscin at scholarships@ed-foundation.org or 888.722.3787, Ext. 282.
