The Women’s Industry Network’s (WIN) commitment to driving the future of the industry is anchored by its investment in women aspiring to work in collision repair. To further this goal, WIN announced applications for its 2024 Scholarship program are open here, now through March 8.
These scholarships are presented annually to deserving students enrolled in a post-secondary collision repair technology program. This past year, WIN expanded its signature scholarship program continuing its tradition of financially supporting a record 20 female students who demonstrated a desire to excel in the field of collision repair.
This coincides with its new Student Engagement program, which offers extensive mentorship opportunities where WIN student associates connect with other members in a similar stage in their lives. The program provides networking and individual connection with women in the industry who can share relevant experiences from their success. These networking groups support new female entrants to the collision repair field and hopefully create lifetime friendships that further WIN goals for longer term career advancement and retention.
This year, WIN has also partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to administer and expand its 2024 WIN Collision Repair Student Scholarships.
“Our Scholarship team was looking to expand the pool of eligible students and CREF is well-known within the industry with its wider reach that perfectly coincides with our collective target audiences," said Laura Kottschade, WIN 2024 Scholarship Committee chair. "It has the necessary structure to administer a more expansive application and evaluation program with us.
“In addition, this allows WIN committee volunteers to focus on building relationships with students to ensure their success, help them interact with other students on the same career path, and match WIN members who can assist with additional mentoring as needed,” Kottschade said.
“Helping students pursue a collision education without accruing debt has made a huge impact for hundreds of students over the years, and CREF is thankful for the industry supporters like WIN who have made this possible by continuing to step up and donate to fund these annual scholarships and tool grants,” said Melissa Marscin, CREF director of operations and impact.
As part of the application process, each WIN Scholarship applicant is registered for, and receives, a complimentary WIN Student Membership. WIN also supports collision repair instructors with access to free WIN memberships through the Pay It Forward campaign.
The expanded WIN Scholarship program offers the College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Awards on two financial levels, CHAMPION and STARS. Recipients are awarded a scholarship ranging from $500 up to $2,500 based on the selection team’s evaluation of their application and the interview process. They also receive WIN wearables, branded items and complimentary registration for attendance to the virtual format of the annual WIN Conference to be held May 5-8 in Newport Beach, CA.
As is tradition, one of the on-site conference highlights is the annual WIN Scholarship Walk, which raises funds from volunteers and sponsors, this year scheduled for 7 a.m. May 7. Participation is not limited to in-person conference attendees, however, as virtual attendees or non-attending friends, family and colleagues are invited to support this program by organizing their own community walk or gifting their registration fee---no walking required. To register for the WIN Scholarship Walk, click here.
Finally, one of the most important benefits for WIN scholarship recipients is their receipt of a customized, well-stocked tool kit. Such complete kits are imperative as students begin their professional journey in collision repair, as oftentimes apprentice positions in shops or in classes have to share basic tools or lack the higher-end tools they need to successfully complete their projects. All scholarship recipients will receive tool kits valued at more than $500.
WIN 2023 Scholarship Award Winners
CHAMPION Recipients
• Kaygen Bogle, Convoy, OH, Wyotech
• Mykenzie Fagan, Rio, WI, Madison Area Technical College
• Sierra Fahley, Larsen, WI, Fox Valley Technical
• Nikya Fields, Houston, TX, UTI Houston
• Amy Fitzgerald, Tullahoma, TN, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Murfreesboro
• Sylvia Fort, Torrance, CA, El Camino College
• Ruth Guardiola, Bellevue, WA, Metropolitan Community College
• Alexandria Huntley, Spring, TX, UTI Houston
• Ren Weilage, Mankato, MI, South Central College
• Morrigan Wolf, Redmond, WA, Lake Washington Institute of Technology
STARS Recipients
• Renee Betz, Afton, OK, UTI - Houston
• MaryAna Buell, Idaho Falls, ID, Idaho State University
• Taeler Coverdale, Houston, TX, UTI - Houston
• Lizbeth DelReal, Topeka, KS, Washburn Institute of Technology
• Brooklyn DiFrederico, The Villages, FL, Lake Technical College
• Carla Vanessa Ortiz Coleman, Jacksonville, NC, Coastal Carolina Community College
• Sandra Rowland, Maple Hill, NC, Coastal Carolina Community College
• Mariah Sherman, Houston, TX, UTI - Houston
• Kayla Tollis, Coraopolis, PA, Rosedale Technical College
• Anastasia Wingo, New Freedom, PA, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must be high school seniors or post-secondary students currently enrolled, at the time of application, in a collision repair program and must have been studying collision repair for at least one semester prior to applying for the awards. Students will be considered for all scholarships/tool grants they are eligible for based on the individual eligibility factors of each award. These eligibility factors can include gender, school attending, year in school, future plans, outside activities and/or financial need.
The collision instructor must complete the Collision Repair School Solutions Survey in order for his/her students to be eligible for any of the scholarship/tool grant opportunities.
To apply for the WIN 2024 Scholarship program, click here.
To learn more about the Women’s Industry Network’s scholarship program, click here.
For more information about WIN, visit the website.
