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Scholarships

June 10, 2022 By Collision Repair Education Foundation

Grants, Golf and Gratitude: Atlanta I-CAR Committee Strengthens Local Schools’ Collision Programs Through CREF

Hoffman Estates, Ill. (June 10, 2022) –

“Dear Advisory Board: Thank you for your support and letting me learn how to repair body work on a car. Without your help, and Mr. Goodwin’s teaching, I probably wouldn’t have learned what I learned this semester.”

“Thank you for donating tools to help us learn about a new career that can help us later in life.”

“You guys have done so much for our class. We can’t thank you enough!”

Collision repair students at Paulding County High School (PCHS) in Dallas, GA sent handwritten notes to members of their program’s advisory board after the school’s second annual Small Car Race, an end-of-year project where students race the six-inch-long small cars they’ve built using recycled car parts.

“By building these cars, the students learn skills like design, sanding, metal work, welding, and painting, but in addition to allowing them to develop basic skills, this project helps build their self-confidence,” shares Melissa Dunn, chair of the PCHS advisory board and co-chair of training for the Atlanta I-CAR Committee. “Students were so proud of the cars they built, and many asked for advice on how they could have improved the design and paint after the races. Returning students will take what they learned this year – and the feedback received – to build a better car for next year’s race.”

Dunn estimates that around 100 people stopped by to watch the races, including Hayden Swank, a late model race car driver with NASCAR aspirations. “Students were excited to see Hayden – and they definitely felt the pressure to do well in front of a real race car driver,” Dunn notes. “Hayden was wonderful to come to the event and support the school’s program…he even waved the green flag to start cars down the track!”

Last year’s Small Car Race generated enough attention to inspire several students to transfer into the auto body program for the 2021-2022 school year, which is only the second year for the collision repair program at PCHS. Instructor Leroy Goodwin taught automotive for six years, but he felt that he was doing students a disservice by not offering any auto body experience. “Two years ago, this program didn’t exist, but when the school agreed to let me add it, I started with nothing more than my personal tools and built it up from nothing,” he recalls.

But the program is growing strong. Two students competed in their state’s SkillsUSA competition this spring with Goodwin’s advanced student taking third place in collision repair and his first-year student placing fourth in refinishing. “His blending was dead-on; the judge couldn’t even find the blend lines,” Goodwin brags. “I was so proud of them both. We also had our first collision graduate recently. He finished school with an ASE certification…and a job offer. We’ll have at least 20 students graduating next year.”

So, how did Goodwin manage to establish and develop such a strong auto body program in a short amount of time…and on the school’s limited program budget of $5,000?

“Without the support we’ve received from our advisory board, the Atlanta I-CAR Committee and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), there’s no way this program would be anywhere near where it’s at,” he expresses. “Our advisory board members are committed to our program and constantly make sure we have everything we need. The Atlanta I-CAR Committee has funded grants and donated tools, equipment and computers, while CREF has also given us tools, estimating software, paint and many materials. These groups are our backbone, and we wouldn’t have this program if it wasn’t for their aid.”

“Because PCHS applies for the CREF grant, they are also able to take advantage of funds raised by the Atlanta I-CAR Committee, allowing Mr. Goodwin to purchase more equipment for his classroom and teach his students the basic skills needed to start their career in the collision repair industry,” Dunn offers. “We are always looking to recruit students that have passion for their craft and want to continue learning; we need them now more than ever, and if we can pique their interest earlier, we improve our chances of seeing them complete their training and enter the workforce after graduation. Without CREF’s grants, many schools cannot afford the equipment and supplies needed to teach their students each year.”

PCHS received a $10,000 CREF Benchmark Grant in 2021, funded by the Atlanta I-CAR Committee’s Annual Golf Tournament. Over the years, the committee has raised over $700,000 for area schools, but their recent iteration generated the most funds to-date. The committee’s efforts raised over $100,000 to support local collision repair education programs through CREF.

“This was our biggest event ever!” Atlanta I-CAR Committee Chair Gerry Poirier divulges. “We sold out with 214 golfers, thanks to high involvement from all segments of the industry and the wonderful job our golf committee does. We have a great team in a great industry, and I’m lucky to lead this group.”

Collision repair professionals from all over the country flocked to the Atlanta I-CAR Committee’s 12th Annual Golf Tournament on April 20 for a beautiful sunny day on the green. While the helicopter ball drop is always a crowd favorite, with this year’s winner receiving $2,000, raffle ticket sales offered multiple opportunities for participants to win fun prizes. For Poirier, the highlight of the event was visiting with the four local schools in attendance, which provided evidence of the impact the committee is making. “This was the first time that four schools showed up to thank everyone for participating in the golf tournament and helping raise funds that support their programs.”

Maxwell High School Instructor Sam Melaragno felt it was important to attend the golf tournament to express his appreciation for everything the Atlanta I-CAR Committee and CREF do to help him and his students since 2012. “They’ve blessed us tremendously. Between the grants, tools and equipment, I never need – or even want for – anything. Whenever I need supplies, they show up for us, enabling me to focus on teaching my kids what they need to know to get started in a shop…they make my job easy.

“These guys really care about the industry, and they work tirelessly to get things done,” Melaragno adds. “Our advisory board is also great. They’re involved and eager to support our program, and they provide input on our curriculum to help us understand how we can get our students ready for them to hire. Their input is as valuable as the support they give us financially.”

“When we support a school, we don’t just hand them money and walk away; we get involved on their advisory boards and their activities because we want to help the programs and the students succeed,” Poirier agrees. “Raising a lot of money is great, but it’s more important that those funds being used to make a difference.”

Student engagement is the best way to gauge the impact of these efforts, and according to Melaragno, “When boxes filled with paint and supplies show up, the adult-sized high school kids get excited like it is Christmas morning. They can’t wait to see what’s inside, and they know that each delivery is just another way that the industry is investing in them and their futures. They notice how much these auto body professionals show up for them, and they recognize how much they’re needed in this industry.”

The Atlanta I-CAR Committee also wants to ensure that students are financially able to pursue their collision careers, so they recently awarded scholarships to two Maxwell High School students through CREF. Marinelly Santiago and Abale Haylay will each receive a $3,000 scholarship to use toward tuition, books and tools as they further their educational pursuits.

“This is an amazing industry, but we have to attract more young people,” Poirier insists. “Learning to fix cars can open so many doors to a great career, so we do what we can to get good people interested, educated and employed. CREF is doing a great job raising awareness with efforts like Operative Talent, but they can’t do it without our help. Industry professionals need to support CREF because you’re busy and can’t do it all – and that’s exactly why you need to support the Foundation!

“CREF is the industry’s voice for attracting good talent,” he continues. “As a shop owner, you don’t have time to go to the American School Counselor Association Conference to improve the industry’s image. You don’t have the resources to coordinate career fairs around the country. And while you’re hopefully invested enough in our industry’s future to sit on a local school’s advisory board, the Foundation engages with hundreds of schools and thousands of students each year on a national level – for all of us! Supporting CREF and your local schools is a really important ways we can all make a difference in our industry’s future.”

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.

Filed Under: News & Events, Press Release Tagged With: Benchmark Grant, I-CAR Committees, Scholarships

February 7, 2018 By admin

DEADLINE FOR COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION SPRING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS FEBRUARY 15

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL (February 8, 2018) – The Collision Repair Education Foundation 2018 grant and scholarship application period will close next Thursday, February 15, 2018. The application period is open for high school and post-secondary collision students who will be attending career and technical schools and colleges in the fall.

The Foundation 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
  • Sears VoTech 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 deadline to apply is February 15, 2018, and winners are chosen and notified by phone or mail in April and May.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: Scholarships

July 13, 2017 By Melissa Marscin

COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2017 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – July 12, 2017 – 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 2017 by the Collision Repair Education Foundation.

Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship Recipient ($2,000 award)

Kyle Ludwig – Highland Community College (Freeport, IL)

Cody Bayless -Washburn Tech (Topeka, KS)

Angel Paucar – Dunwoody College of Technology (Minneapolis, MN)

Charles Sherwood – Lex La-Ray Technical Center (Lexington, MO)

Garrett Boles – Eastern Center for Arts and Technology (Willow Grove, PA)

The Lon Baudoux Legacy Scholarship is in its ninth 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 Grant Recipients

$2,000: Tina Brown – Moore Norman Technology Center (Norman, OK)

$2,000: Shelby Bouchie – Regional Career Technical Center (Ypsilanti, MI)

$1,000: Morgan Richardson – Hawaii Community College (Hilo, HI)

$1,000: Angel Maturano – Chantilly Academy (Chantilly, VA)

 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 Grant Recipients

$2,000: Tucker Dagle – TCAT (Crossville, TN)

$1,000 scholarship: Matthew Dyas (Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, CO)

$1,000 tool grant: Bryan Hernandez (Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE)

 

Robert (Bob) Author Smith Memorial Scholarship ($3,000)

 Kenya Hundley – Fox Valley Tech College (Appleton, WI)

The Robert (Bob) Author Smith Memorial scholarship is for eligible collision students attending Fox Valley Technical College. The scholarship honors Robert “Bob” Author Smith, a long time instructor at the school and I-CAR and CREF supporter.

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.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: Scholarships

July 13, 2017 By Melissa Marscin

PPG FOUNDATION AWARDS FIVE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – July 12, 2017 – The PPG Foundation, in collaboration with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, is awarding $5,000 scholarships to four students who have demonstrated an interest in careers related to automotive repair and refinish. The foundations have also selected a winner for the $2,000 PPG MVP scholarship.

Each of the scholarships can be used for educational expenses including tuition, books or equipment. This year’s recipients of the $5,000 scholarships are

  • Dylon Cotton, Texarkana College, Texarkana, Texas
  • Xavian Henry, Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Matthew Norris, Lake Technical Center, Eustis, Florida
  • Jeffrey Schilling, Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa

 Sandra Morales, Kennedy King College, Chicago, Illinois, will be awarded the $2,000 PPG MVP scholarship.

“Through PPG and the PPG Foundation, we continue to work closely with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support future collision repair professionals and develop the educational facilities the collision industry requires,” said Domenic Brusco, PPG senior manager, industry relations. “By taking an active role in the education of collision repair and refinish students across the country, we help grow a capable workforce to meet the demand for highly competent technicians amid the industry’s ever-evolving technology. We congratulate our 2017scholarship recipients.”

 

Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to support secondary and post-secondary collision repair students, instructors and school programs are invited to contact Brandon Eckenrode, director of development at (847) 663-5244 or Brandon.Eckenrode@ed-foundation.org.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: Scholarships

July 13, 2017 By Melissa Marscin

CRAFTSMAN® AT SEARS AND SEARS AUTO CENTERS AWARD 10 STUDENTS WITH CRAFTSMAN TOOL KITS THROUGH THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Hoffman Estates, Ill.– July 12, 2017 – Together, the Craftsman brand at Sears and Sears Auto Centers are awarding a Craftsman Tool Box and tool set to each of 10 collision repair students through the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s grant program. Each student will receive one of three kits containing over 180 pieces each, meant to assist the students in their collision repair education and career. High school and post-secondary students enrolled in select collision-repair programs were eligible to apply for the tool kits. This is the second consecutive year the Craftsman brand at Sears and Sears Auto Centers have made the awards to the collision repair students.

The 10 winners selected in 2017 are as follows:

  • Angel Davila of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Danny Jones of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Tristian Jones of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Ill.
  • Milton Peterson of Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Fla.
  • Cole Fulp of Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Sale, N.C.
  • Kyle Bathke of South Central College in North Mankato, Minn.
  • Luis Osorio of Lorenzo Walker Technical College in Naples, Fla.
  • Camden Pellant of Salem High School in Salem, Va.
  • Morgan Johnson of Arcadia Valley R-II High School in Ironton, Mo.
  • Walker Graff of Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan, Colo.

For additional information about Craftsman tools, visit craftsman.com. Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of 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.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: Scholarships

July 13, 2017 By Melissa Marscin

SNAP-ON GRANTS TOOL SETS TO TWO STUDENT WINNERS THROUGH THE COLLISION REPAIR EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Hoffman Estates, IL– July 12, 2017 – Snap-On is awarding two collision repair students with tool sets meant to assist in their education. Each tool set is valued at $3,010 and includes a basic Snap-On starter tool set and a five-drawer rolling storage unit. The tool grant was available to high school and post-secondary students from select collision repair programs in North America.

The student winners of the 2017 Snap-On Tool Grant include:

  • Tom James of Kennedy King College in Chicago, Illinois
  • Heather Lang of Indiana County Technology Center in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.

Greg Rintala, Snap-On National Sales Manager-Education, said, “Snap-On is involved with Career and Technical Education and has been for many years. The Skills Gap is a major issue in these times and Snap-On recognizes this. Getting students trained to fill these jobs will give them a way to feed, clothe, and shelter their future families possibly for their whole careers with a very dignified job is important. To do that work, they need tools and Snap-On feels very privileged to be part of CREF’s tool grant program. We would like to congratulate the winners.”

For more information about Snap-On, visit http://education.snapon.com. Industry members interested in working with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of 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.

Filed Under: Press Release Tagged With: Scholarships

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The Collision Repair Education Foundation is a national nonprofit and tax-exempt student organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code, Section (501)(c)(3).

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ADDRESS:
Collision Repair Education Foundation
5125 Trillium Blvd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

PHONE: 888.722.3787
Email: info@ed-foundation.org

Recent Posts

  • CREF Fall 2023 High School & College Transportation Student Career Fairs Connect Industry with Future Collision Professionals
  • CREF Welcomes John Eck to Board of Directors
  • Operative Talent Offers Chance to Win a Custom 1969 Camaro in “Drive For Talent” Fundraiser to Raise Awareness for Careers in the Collison Repair Industry
  • Interested in a career in collision repair? Check out the endless opportunities that lie in a constantly evolving industry!
  • Nearly 90 Collision Students Receive Over $130,000 in Scholarships and Tool Grants Through Generous Industry Support Facilitated by CREF
  • CREF Raises Over $100,000 for Collision Students and Schools at 21st Annual Golf Fundraiser
  • Coast to Coast: CREF Volunteers Create Connections with Collision Students

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