The Universal Technical Institute (UTI), in conjunction with DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC), have awarded $50,000 in scholarships to UTI to the first ten recipients. DPC established a $250,000 scholarship fund last year, with a total of $50,000 to be awarded to ten students annually for the next five years. 

"These scholarships help in recruiting new entrants into the collision industry. They also help local DuPont jobbers support education at the grass roots level," said Steffen Apollo, DPC director of training for the United States and Canada.

"The scholarships provide tuition assistance for tomorrow's collision technicians," said Rick Jazwin, UTI vice president of Industry Development.

The 10 winners, each of whom will receive $5,000 in scholarship assistance, are: Aaron Adler, Cincinnati, Ohio; Aaron Landin, Yuma, Arizona; Christopher Jolley, Geraldine, Alabama; Daniel Anderson, Spring Valley, Wisconsin; Johnny Rodriguez, Kingsburg, California; Joseph LaGrotteria III, Houston, Texas; Man Nguyen, Grand Prairie, Texas; Michael Painter, Middletown, Ohio; Robert Simmons, Union, Ohio; and Shamar Lemon, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Located on UTI's Houston campus, the Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology (CRRT) program teaches students the skills needed to succeed as collision repair technicians. Students receive 54 weeks/1,620 clock hours of training in non-structural, structural, refinishing, estimating and plastic repair, and mechanical and electrical repair. In addition, CRRT graduates are DPC-credentialed and receive training across all DPC brands in the fundamentals of automotive refinishing. Graduates also have the opportunity to earn 24 I-CAR Gold Class Points as well as I-CAR Welding Qualification in steel and aluminum.

In addition to the scholarship program, UTI and DPC will continue to cooperate in developing real world, state-of-the-art training solutions and curriculum for students seeking a career in the collision repair industry. DPC also will offer assistance in matching graduating students with potential employers who need highly qualified technicians trained in the application of DPC products. This association also provides for student resumes in the classified section of the DPC website.

Many companies maintain a recruiting edge by participating in UTI's Tuition Reimbursement Incentive Partnership program (TRIP). TRIP offers an opportunity for potential employers to hire UTI graduates and help pay back their student loans over the life of the loan.