Collision Repair Education Foundation

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Collision Repair Education Foundation Awards Students with Nearly $150,000 in 2022 Scholarships and Tool Grants Through Generous Industry Support

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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Scholarships Awarded to Seven Students Through PPG Foundation and Collision Repair Education Foundation

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 30, 2022) –

Seven collision students with a special interest in the painting segment of the industry will receive scholarships funded by the PPG Foundation through the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF). This year’s awards include six $4,500 scholarships in addition to a $1,000 MVP scholarship, provided by PPG, a global manufacturer of paints, coatings and specialty materials. The scholarships are designed to help recipients fund their education and ensure they have the opportunity to pursue a future career in the collision repair industry.

Recipients of PPG’s 2022 student scholarships for $4,500 include:

  • Jarrod Johnson (Rosedale Technical College – Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Sam Paukovics (Rosedale Technical College – Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Sierra Marriner (Rosedale Technical College – Pittsburgh, PA)
  • Txiab Khang (Dunwoody College – Minneapolis, MN)
  • Drake Booth (Guilford Technical Community College – Greensboro, NC)
  • Luis Del Real (Washburn Institute of Technology – Topeka, KS)

The recipient of the $1,000 PPG MVP scholarship was:

  • Joseph Aubin- shown below (Sandhills Community College – Pinehurst, NC)

“The 2022 student scholarships aim to support the recipients as they study and explore the robust career paths within the collision repair and paint industries,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility. “In partnership with the Collision Repair Education, we prioritize workforce development and helping to educate students with hands-on, practical education and skills that lead to career placement.”

Post-secondary collision repair education students were eligible for this award, which provides financial support to help students continue their education and prepare for a successful career in body shops around the country. 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.

PPG and the PPG Foundation have been proud supporters of the Foundation since 2011. For additional information, visit ppg.com.

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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarships Awarded to Two Students Through CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 30, 2022) –

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC) and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) proudly announce that two deserving students have won 2022 CCC Michael Salvatore Repair Technician Scholarships. In place since 2006, CCC awards scholarships to students currently enrolled in post-secondary collision repair programs who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.

The recipients of CCC’s 2022 student scholarship program will each receive a $3,000 scholarship. Recipients include:

  • Kelvin Mason (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)
  • Christopher Avelino (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)

“Congratulations to this year’s recipients for their hard work and commitment to excellence in collision repair,” said Andreas Hecht, senior vice president, OEM and new ventures for CCC. “Ongoing education and training are critical as the industry works to keep pace with increasingly complex vehicles. Advanced technologies have become a central part of the collision repair industry and are essential to delivering thorough, timely, and consistent repair outcomes. CCC is proud to support the next generation of collision repairers as they work to prepare for a rewarding career in the automotive industry.”

Post-secondary collision repair education students were eligible for this award, which provides financial support to ensure students are able to continue their education, preparing them for a successful career in body shops around the country. Recipients must be current enrolled in a NATEF-certified school or an Industry Training Alliance school that current utilizes the CCC Estimating System. Winning students use scholarship funds to pay back tuition costs acquired in obtaining their education.

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.

CCC is a founding member of the Collision Repair Education Foundation. For additional information, visit cccis.com.

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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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Adelmann Family Scholarships Leaves Lasting Legacy on Eight Students Through Collision Repair Education Foundation

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 30, 2022) –

The Collision Repair Education Foundation is excited to announce that eight deserving students will each receive up to $10,000 toward tuition and/or education loans as the inaugural recipients of the Adelmann Family Scholarships. Borne of a desire to amplify CREF’s efforts to help schools and students at a higher level, the scholarships were established earlier this year by recently retired industry veteran Tim Adelmann as a means of leaving a lasting legacy on the industry he loves.

“Supporting collision students is important for our entire industry,” Adelmann states. “My family and I contacted CREF to start the Adelmann Family Scholarship because we felt it was time to step up and DO something to help support some of the best and brightest future repair technicians. As an industry, we need to do more to address the technician shortage, and with CREF’s assist, this seemed like a great way to help young people navigate through their training period and then place them in good-paying jobs.”

The recipients of the 2022 Adelmann Family Scholarships include:

  • Davindra Cheddie (NYADI – Jamaica, NY)
  • Gerardo Rojas (Fox Valley Technical College – Appleton, WI)
  • Jawuan Alexander (UTI – Houston, TX)
  • Emelie Horsens (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College – Green Bay, WI)
  • Tate Ahlberg (Hawkeye Community College – Waterloo, IA)
  • Alyssa Patton (NYADI – Jamaica, NY)
  • Maverick Jaycox (South Central College – North Mankato, MN)
  • Cesar Batista (NYADI – Jamaica, NY)

The 2022 Adelmann Family Scholarships are the first of many; the Adelmann family donated 500,000 in 2021 which will fund scholarships for the next five-plus years. Post-secondary collision repair education students studying to become body technicians were eligible for this award, which provides financial support to help students continue their education and prepare for a successful career in body shops around the country.

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.

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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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Tim Clark Memorial Scholarships Awarded to Two Worthy Students Through Driven Brands and the Collision Repair Education Foundation

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 30, 2022) –

Driven Brands continued its partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to again award Tim Clark Memorial Scholarships to two deserving collision repair students. Selected from a pool of high school seniors and post-secondary students who have demonstrated their passion for and desire to enter the collision repair industry, each student received a $1,000 scholarship to be used toward tuition, books, and tools.

“The collision repair industry is bursting with opportunity, and through programs like this, we can introduce new students to the field and help them start their journey on the right foot,” said Dean Fisher, collision president, Driven Brands. “We are grateful for the support the Collision Repair Education Foundation provides in making these scholarships possible. We are excited about the potential we are seeing in the recipients of the Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship, and we look forward to watching them continue to thrive.”

The recipients of the 2022 Tim Clark Memorial Scholarships include:

  • David Thomas (Warren Tech – Lakewood, CO)
  • Hector Gomez (Kennedy-King College – Chicago, IL)

In 2015, the Tim Clark Memorial Scholarship was established following the loss of Tim Clark, a 37-year industry veteran and executive at Fix Auto USA. A strong advocate for education and pursuing one’s life purpose, Clark left instructions and funding to initiate the scholarship, through which Driven Brands and CREF continue his legacy.

Ensure more students have continued access to an education in the collision repair industry by donating to the Foundation in direct support of the Fix Auto USA—Tim Clark Memorial 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.

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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.

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North Carolina SkillsUSA Winner Reflects on FTCC Education, Prepares for Nationals

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 21, 2022) –

James Song has skills – as he demonstrated at the North Carolina State SkillsUSA competition where he won first place in post-secondary automotive refinishing technology.

“I was definitely nervous when I walked in, but I’d practiced three or four times each week for a month, plus I was fortunate enough to be prepped by Robbie Lynch, an instructor who has gone to states with previous students,” Song, a student at Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC), recalled his feelings on the date of the state-level competition. “After about 30 minutes, everything fell into place. It felt like I was back in class, practicing. I started feeling really confident then; I knew I could do this.”

Even the couple curveballs thrown his way didn’t shake Song for long. “I was unfamiliar with some of the alternate techniques they offered, but instead of allowing myself to feel pressured to do something different, I just did as I was taught, and the product came out really great.”

Although he felt pretty confident, Song found the win to be “unexpected. I didn’t expect to win. I wanted to compete so I could compare myself to others to gauge how advanced I am in the program and see how I compare to the rest of the industry. My friends thought I’d place and were surprised when I took first place. Although my family had no idea what was actually going on, they ‘knew’ I’d win because of my confidence.”

Doug Irish, collision instructor at FTCC, was less surprised by his student’s success. “James is a very good student. He’s focused and conscientious, and he’s a little more mature than most other students since he has an associate’s degree in another field and a couple years’ college experience behind him already.

“Since James joined the class, he picks up the concepts very quickly and excels at transferring classroom knowledge into skillset development on the floor,” Irish continued. “When he misses a lab, he comes in after hours to practice and hone his skills. FTCC and I were very excited that James won North Carolina State SkillsUSA.”

Doug Irish

Prior to enrollment in the collision technology program at FTCC, Song was working on the maintenance side, and as he considered the increasing electrification of vehicles and how that would impact the future viability of his career path, he decided that collision might be a better route to travel. Currently an apprentice at Hendrick Collision in Fayetteville, Song plans to pursue a career in the collision repair industry after graduation.

“I’m specifically interested in painting; it’s a different form of artwork,” he shared. “I’ve heard that it’s a tough segment and you need to be good to stand out in such a minute group, but I’m up for the challenge. I enjoy demonstrating what I can do with paint, but I definitely enjoy bodywork, too. I just want to work on cars in general.”

His studies at FTCC have prepared Song for his future career by providing “a lot of hands-on experience. The instructors are there to answer questions and provide examples of how to improve your skills, and I took all their advice in and used that knowledge to compete.”

According to Irish, one of the biggest challenges he faces as a collision instructor is in recruitment and finding the right students, but once he attracts them to the course, he works hard to train the next generation of technicians. Of course, the expense of the class presents additional challenges.

“Collision has one of the highest expense ratios when it comes to training and consumable materials,” Irish explained. “Fortunately, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) helps us offset those costs through grants, tool donations and donated consumables. They essentially equipped us to restart the collision program in 2015 with nearly $1 million in tools, materials and products, all donated through the industry.

“CREF put a lot of effort into helping our program become more effective at teaching the skills that industry employers actually need from entry-level technicians,” he added. “We teach them everything they’ll see in today’s collision shops, including working on live vehicles so they attain real-world experience. CREF has also helped us connect students with employers around the country when the graduate decides they don’t want to stay local; 100% of our graduates who want to join this field have been able to land a collision job.”

Song believes that many young people have started gravitating to more hands-on trades and wishes that he’d had the option to study collision when he was in high school.

Next up? Song is in Atlanta competing this week looking to be on SkillsUSA Nationals awards stage on June 24th!

“It’s a much bigger stage and more difficult competition, but I’m looking forward to James’ ventures in Atlanta and wish him the best,” Irish expressed.

“I’m extremely excited for Nationals,” Song stated. “I just wanted to see where I’m at – I didn’t expect to make it this far. I’m going in with the same mentality as before. I hope I place, but I really just want to put my name out there. Whether I win or not, I want to have a good time and show the industry who I am and what I can do.”

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.

Follow us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

If you would like more information about this topic, please email info@ed-foundation.org.