For the fifth consecutive year, a scholarship opportunity to promote both the increasing importance of a skilled and educated workforce along with growing leadership opportunities for women is being offered to female collision repair students, sponsored by the I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with Akzo Nobel Coatings Inc. and “The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry.” 

There will be two $5,000 winners – one winner from a secondary school and one winner from a post-secondary school – and six $2,000 runner-up scholarships to be presented at NACE>

Executive Director of the Education Foundation Ron Ray noted, “It is a pleasure to administer this scholarship program for Akzo Nobel and reward these talented, future female collision industry employees.”

Additional contributions

DuPont Performance Coatings contributed a total of $5,000 to support the Foundation’s many programs and services.

“The contribution received from DuPont demonstrates their commitment to investing in the future of the collision industry by allowing us to continue creating programs, products, and services for career and technical schools and colleges,” said Ray.

“This support is critical to help attract young people into the industry and develop the latest training materials for their schools. Our efforts to make a difference in the collision industry are made possible only by such generous and dedicated professionals like those at DuPont Performance Coatings.”      DuPont Business Development & Industry Relations Manager Bruce Cooley said, “DuPont Performance Coatings is pleased to contribute to the efforts of the I-CAR Education Foundation to support and advance collision repair education activities. This annual donation is part of our ongoing commitment to help promote and enhance career opportunities in our industry.”

Another $5,000 total contribution to the foundation was presented by Mitchell International. “Mitchell is proud to be a part of the collision repair industry and is honored to support the efforts of the Foundation,” said Greg Horn, Mitchell’s vice president of industry relations. “We are grateful to the industry for all the support it has shown to us over the past 60 years and feel that it is a privilege to be able to give back to our industry colleagues.”

“We are excited to have the opportunity to work closer with Mitchell International and are proud of the leadership role they play in the collision industry,” said Clark Plucinski, the foundation’s immediate past chairman.

“The contribution received from Mitchell International will allow us to continue creating programs, products, and services for career and technical schools and colleges that will assist them in preparing entry-level technicians,” added Ray.