Hoffman Estates, Ill. (December 17, 2019) –
The Collision Repair Education Foundation announced nearly $500,000 in Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants and other awards during the Foundation’s annual reception, held on November 6 at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nev. The funds for the grants were raised by local I-CAR committees’ fundraising efforts and through industry contributions, and the awards will allow program directors from 102 schools in 29 states to improve their schools’ collision repair training programs.
During the reception, sponsored by Enterprise, the Foundation shared information about their organization’s efforts to support high school and post-secondary collision students, highlighted the 2019 donors and supporters, and announced the winners of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant.
In addition to the grants funded by industry companies and through the I-CAR committees, the Foundation awarded 13 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants from their general unrestricted funds, donated by industry members who recognize the value of investing in the next generation of collision repair technicians.
Melissa Marscin, the Foundation’s Director of Operations and Administration, announced the grant recipients. “The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud to have so many dedicated industry partners supporting collision education. As school funding is decreasing, industry companies are stepping up to help fill the gap and give students the best education possible. These companies understand that the students of today are the industry employees of tomorrow.”
Lorenzo Walker Technical College (Naples, FL) was awarded a $20,000 Benchmark Grant which was accepted by Instructor Andy Retz. The school’s collision program boasts a strong partnership with local businesses and a 90% placement rate for students. The school hopes to offer aluminum certification and a welding certification program.
Another $20,000 Benchmark Grant was awarded to Eden Area ROP (Hayward, CA) and accepted by Instructor Daniel Pareja. Students from Eden Area ROP’s collision program have placed first in the California SkillsUSA competition in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019, and the program is in need of hand tools to progress to the next level.
Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School (Littleton, MA) received a $10,000 grant, and the following 10 schools were awarded $1,000 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grants:
- Area 30 Career Center (Greencastle, IN)
- CA BOCES-CTE Center (Olean, NY)
- Franklin County High School (Winchester, TN)
- Itawamba Community College (Tupelo, MS)
- Kingwood Park High School (Kingwood, TX)
- Mercer County Technical Education Center (Princeton, WV)
- Ogden High School (Ogden, UT)
- Seminole High School (Sanford, FL)
- Union County Career and Technology Center (Union, SC)
- D. Ormsby Education Center (East Aurora, NY)
Eligibility for these awards was achieved by applying for the 2019 Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark Grant. These grants recognize schools that excel at educating students in collision repair, but due to strained school budgets, the programs require additional financial assistance to provide the tools, equipment and supplies necessary to ensure that students are prepared to successfully enter the workforce upon graduation. The funds donated by the industry help these schools advance to the next tier in the Foundation’s Collision School Career Readiness Benchmark program or to further expand the program’s capabilities if the maximum tier has already been reached.
Industry members interested in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting 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 at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please call 888-722-3787 or email info@ed-foundation.org.
