Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 30, 2022) –
The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2022 Board of Trustees Scholarships, Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarships, Sulkala Family Scholarships, What Cars Say Book Grants and CREF Tool Grants, as well as JW Bagley Foundation Scholarship. Including these awards, the industry’s generosity has allowed CREF to fund nearly $150,000 in 2022 scholarships and tool grants as part of its ongoing efforts to support future collision repair industry professionals as they obtain their educations.
“CREF is honored to recognize these outstanding students through the 2022 scholarships
and tool grants,” said Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations and Administration for CREF. “These students are truly committed to pursuing their education and in becoming part of the collision industry, and we hope these awards help to contribute to their successful careers.”
Two students will receive $2,000 Collision Repair Education Foundation Board of Trustees Scholarships:
- Lathen Worman- shown to the left (Area 30 Career Center – Greencastle, IN)
- Cara Wick- (Minnesota State College Southeast – Winona, MN)
Funded by current members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, this scholarship provides students with financial assistance to be used towards tuition and other costs associated with their education in collision repair.
The Sulkala Family Scholarships, valued at $1,000 each, were awarded to:
- Viosan Myrtaj (South Technical High School – Saint Louis, MO)
- Lauren Lewis (Guilford Technical Community College – Greensboro, NC)
Administered by the Foundation, the Sulkala Family Scholarship was created to honor the 50-year career and legacy of Chuck Sulkala, founder and executive director of the National Auto Body Council (NABC), who retired in 2018.
The two students will each receive a $2,000 Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarship are:
- Brenda Bravo- shown below (Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center – Reading, PA)
- Errol Ross (College of Transportation Technology – Queens, NY)
Created to honor Lon Baudoux, I-CAR Development Manager who passed away in 2008, the Lon Baudoux Memorial Scholarship is funded primarily by I-CAR staff and instructors who worked with Baudoux, in recognition of the importance he placed on secondary and post-secondary collision repair students receiving a proper education. Scholarship funds are designed to help students finance their education. Recipients are selected based on academic excellence, as well as participation in outside activities, such as sports, clubs, and volunteer work.
A $500 scholarship was awarded to Quin Madsen (Technical College High School – Downingtown, PA) through CREF’s What Cars Say collaboration. Additionally, the following 11 students received What Cars Say tool grants, valued at $500 each:
- Brenda Bravo- (Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center – Reading, PA)
- Wynter Harris (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)
- Emelie Horsens (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Green Bay, WI)
- Lauren Lewis (Guilford Technical Community College – Greensboro, NC)
- Sierra Marriner (Rosedale Technical College – Pittsburgh, PA)
- Alyssa Patton (New York Automotive and Diesel Institute – Jamaica, NY)
- Sam Paukovics (Rosedale Technical College – Pittsburgh, PA)
- Yamila Saldana (Diamond Oaks Career Campus – Cincinnati, OH)
- Marinelly Santiago (Maxwell High School of Technology – Lawrenceville, GA)
- Princess Sturdivant (Guilford Technical Community College – Jamestown, NC)
- Cara Wick (Minnesota State College Southeast – Winona, MN)
Funds for these grants through the sale of What Cars Say, written by Rachael Alfonso, who collaborated with CREF in 2021 to establish a fund to support female collision students during the 2021-2022 school year. The young women who received the tool grants may use funds to purchase student uniforms, female spray suits, tools and equipment.
Additionally, six students will receive SataJet 5000 spray guns through CREF’s Tool Grants. This year’s recipients include:
- Cylus Trejo (College of Southern Idaho – Twin Falls, ID)
- Henry Huynh (Warren Tech – Lakewood, CO)
- Lauren Clear (Aims Automotive Technology Center – Windsor, CO)
- Ivan Marquez (Warren Tech – Lakewood, CO)
- Erik Palafox (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)
- Tyler Reavis (Wilkes Community College – Wilkesboro, NC)
Lastly, two outstanding students will benefit from JW Bagley Foundation Scholarships, a non-industry entity that supports CREF’s mission and provided $4,000 toward each student’s education costs. The lucky recipients of these scholarships were:
- Mohammad Farhaan Ismail (New York Automotive and Diesel Institute – Jamaica, NY)
- Wynter Harris (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)
Secondary and post-secondary collision repair education students were eligible for these awards, which provide students with financial support to enable them to continue their education and prepare them for a successful career in body shops around the country.
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist secondary and post-secondary collision repair training programs should contact Brandon Eckenrode, Managing Director, at 312-231-0258 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org. Monetary donations can be made online.
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 email info@ed-foundation.org
