Press Release

Hoffman Estates, IL – May 21, 2015– The Collision Repair Education Foundation and CCC Information Services Inc., are proud to announce four exceptional students as winners of the CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student Repair Technician Scholarship. The CCC scholarship program has been in place since 2006.

The CCC Michael Salvatore Memorial Student Repair Technician Scholarship awards scholarships to students currently enrolled in a repair program and who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.

The 2015 winners include:

Top Scholarship Recipient
Sylvanah Wolff (Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA)

Additional Scholarship Recipients
Chris Kelly (Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI)
Matthew Miller (Lake Technical College, Eustis, FL)
Silky Wheeler (Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC)

“CCC congratulates these students on their academic achievements and we’re proud to support them in their collision repair education and training,” said Joseph Allen, GM of CCC’s Automotive Services Group. “As new technologies continue to drive vehicle design and repairability, hands-on education has become even more critical. We wish these students well and look forward to having them in the industry in the years to come.”

For additional information about CCC Information Services visit www.cccis.com. Industry members interested in working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in supporting 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.

Hoffman Estates, IL– May 21, 2015 – ABRA Auto Body & Glass awarded 10 collision students each with $2,000 in tools through a spring tool grant opportunity with the Collision Repair Education Foundation. The tool grant was made available to select high school seniors and post-secondary students studying in collision repair programs. The winning students were able to select $2,000 (retail value) in tools and equipment from a list of entry-level body tools.

The student winners of the 2015 ABRA Auto Body & Glass spring tool grant include:

Alfonza Cooper – Chattahoochee Technical College (Marietta, GA)
Jonathon Groom – Southwest Technical College (Fennimore, WI)
Derek Holzknecht – Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (Rice Lake, WI)
Antonio Huizar – Pickens Technical College (Aurora, CO)
Jamari Linder – WyoTech (Blairsville, PA)
Cesar Mercado – Walla Walla Community College (Walla Walla, WA)
Anthony Pung – Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN)
Cory Seal – Tennessee College of Applied Technology (Morristown, TN)
Victor Vuchetich – Chippewa Valley Technical College (Eau Claire, WI)
Jacob Will – Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park, MN)

“One of the long-term goals of ABRA is to foster and support high school seniors and post-secondary students with their training and education in collision repair programs,” said Michelle DeMarais, ABRA’s recruiting manager. “With these grants and our partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, this goal can be a reality for students all across the country.”

For additional information about ABRA Auto Body & Glass, visit www.abraauto.com. . Industry members interested in working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in supporting 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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – May 21, 2015 – The Collision Repair Education Foundation and 3M are proud to announce the 43 winners for the first round of this year’s 3M Hire Our Heroes awards. The winners include 35 students that are currently studying collision repair, and who have served or are currently serving in the military. Each winning student had the opportunity to select $3,000 worth of tools to help them in their education and for employment after graduation.

3M Hire Our Heroes Veteran Grant Recipients

Allen Martin (Lincoln College of Technology, Nashville, TN)
Brad Gilliam (Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC)
Christopher Kelly (Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI)
Clynt Holt (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Cory Stead (OSU Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK)
Danny Lewis (Wiregrass Technical College, Valdosta, GA)
Danny Taylor (Parkland Community College, Champaign, IL)
David Crank (Pulaski Technical College, Little Rock, AR)
Derrick Palmer (Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, IA)
Frank Wiginton (Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, MS)
Gabriel Davis (Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN)
Henry Bunk (Erie Community College, Orchard Park, NY)
Jacob Truckey (Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI)
James Roush (Lake Technical Institute, Eustis, FL)
James Wood (Manhattan Area Technical College, Manhattan, KS)
Jedidiah Long (Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville, TN)
John Newman (Washburn Institute of Technology, Topeka, KS)
Jorge Maya (Kennedy King College, Chicago, IL)
Joseph Gates (Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA)
Joseph Normandin (Texas State Technical College, Waco, TX)
Joseph Shatterly (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Julian Rorie (Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, NC)
Kevin Thomas (Gadsden State Community College, Anniston, AL)
Larry Boyce (Withlacoochee Technical College, Inverness, FL)
Martin Zurita (Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID)
Michael Brewer (Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Paris, TN)
Michael Cook (Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Rice Lake, WI)
Paul Hyde (Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN)
Philip McKee (Texas State Technical College, Bellmead, TX)
Ray Alston (Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC)
Robyn Wood (Aims Community College, Greeley, CO)
Roland Greer (OSU Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK)
Ronald Woolett (Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC)
Sean Holmgren (Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK)
Thomas Thon (Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK)

In addition, eight collision students that have immediate family members that served or are serving in the military were selected as scholarship winners. Each student received a scholarship between $1,000-$2,500 to help with their education costs.
3M Hire Our Heroes – Veteran Family Award Recipients
Amanda Prince (Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC)
Andrew Moxley (Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, SC)
Brianna Fleming (Indiana County Technology Center, Indiana, PA)
Caitlin Baier (Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI)
Jospeh Cebreiros (Academy for Careers and Technology, Marion, SC)
Joseph Shatterly (Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX)
Roland Greer (OSU Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK)
Sean McCallister (Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Jamison, PA)

This is the third year that 3M has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of our industry and our nation’s veterans. Since 2013, 3M has donated $500,000 to be used towards scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation is looking to help connect these students with industry businesses who would be interested in meeting and potentially hiring them. If your business is interested in hiring one of the winning students, please send your business information including location to the Collision Repair Education Foundation at info@ed-foundation.org and the organization will help introduce both parties for potential employment opportunities.

Additional information on 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division can be found at www.3Mcollision.com

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – May 21, 2015 – 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 2015 by the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship Recipient ($1,000 award)
Dymond Braun (Aims Community College, Windsor, CO)
Dillon Bullard (Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro, NC)
Melanie Thomas (Marengo Community High School, Marengo, IL)
Shelby Woods (Southwestern Community College, Creston, IA)
Jeremy Young (Warren Central Walker Career Center, Indianapolis, IN)

The Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship is in its seventh 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/Tool Grant Recipients
$2,000 scholarship: Hugo Alvarado (Monroe Technology Center, Leesburg, VA)
Joseph Gates (Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA)

$1,000 scholarship: Jose Suarez (Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, Yakima, WA)
Trey Trotter (Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI)
Evan Vail (Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, SC)

$1,500 tool kit: Gregory Kranke (Lake Technical Center, Eustis, FL)

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 Tool Grant Recipients

Hugo Alvarado (Monroe Technology Center, Leesburg, VA)
Josue De La Cruz (West-Mec, Phoenix, AZ)
Steven Downing (Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN)
Uziel Ramos (Metro Tech High School, Phoenix, AZ)
Jose Suarez (Yakima Valley Technical Skills Center, Yakima, WA)
Evan Vail (Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, SC)
Jose Zermeno (Technical College High School, West Grove, PA)

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.

Hoffman Estates, IL – May 21, 2015 – The Atlanta I-CAR Volunteer Committee awarded two $5,000 scholarships through the Collision Repair Education Foundation this spring. The scholarships will be used to assist students with educational expenses such as tuition, books, tools, and equipment. Funding for this scholarship was made possible through the committee hosting annual golf and car show fundraiser events.

The 2015 grant winners include:
Kevin Galloway (Chattahoochee Technical College, Jasper, GA)
Nicolas Ramirez (North Georgia Technical College, Clarkesville, GA)

I-CAR Georgia State Chairman and Atlanta Committee Chairman Gerry Poirier stated “The ability to be able to provide these deserving future collision technicians with scholarships is due entirely to the dedication of the volunteers on the Atlanta Committee and the generosity of the collision industry in supporting the committee’s fund raising events. The scholarships have been offered by the committee for the last 3 years. Thanks to everyone involved for their dedication to improving our industry.”

Inter-industry organizations and individuals who are interested in supporting the Education Foundation and increasing the amount of assistance provided to collision schools and students should contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed foundation.org or 847-463-5244.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – May 1, 2015 – As a follow up to the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2014 inaugural Cars, Careers, & Celebrities event, which raised over $200,000 for the organization, the 2015 event will be held on Friday, September 18th at the Chicagoland Speedway (Joliet, Ill.), in conjunction with the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup taking place that weekend. The event will bring together hundreds of high school and college collision students, industry members, and sponsors. High school and college collision students from Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Michigan are anticipated to participate in this event and that list is expected to grow by the event date. ABRA Auto Body & Glass has stepped-up to participate as the first Diamond Level sponsor and the Collision Repair Education Foundation encourages all industry members to participate to not only showcase the various members of the industry to the attending students but also help raise additional funds to assist collision school programs.

This event will be available at no charge for high school and college collision students, instructors, and administrators however the Collision Repair Education Foundation is requesting a $100 donation p/individual industry member to attend which will include a trade show, grandstand admission to Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, Fan Zone Pit Pass, food/beverages, raffles, and VIP access opportunities for select attendees.

Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “We are excited to be working with Chicagoland Speedway on this event and that is meant to raise the level of industry awareness to area collision school students and help connect them to industry employers. We plan on having industry vendors, NASCAR guest speakers, and much more. As there will be industry vendors and racing celebrities in attendance, we ask that industry members interested in attending to save the date and we look forward to seeing the inter-industry this September. Special thanks and recognition to ABRA Auto Body & Glass for being our first Diamond Level sponsor as this event will bring together hundreds of high school and college collision students, we ask that other industry companies looking to engage with the future professionals of the industry to reach out to us and participate.”

“The Cars, Careers & Celebrities event is a terrific initiative from the Collision Repair Education Foundation and it is one we are extremely proud to support,” added Chicagoland Speedway president, Scott Paddock. “Educational opportunities extending outside the classroom are often some of the most valuable, and the experience that our event weekend will provide in the development of students and young professionals from across the Midwest serves as the perfect precursor to one of the premier weekends on the NASCAR schedule.”

Those interested in participating in the 2015 Cars, Careers, & Celebrities event should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org/ 847-463-5244.