AudaExplore, a Solera Company, working together with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, will once again be awarding $25,000 in tool grants that will be to all high school and post-secondary collision repair and refinishing students that competed at the national SkillsUSA contest. By working together with industry companies and their student product discounts, the retail value of these tools will exceed $50,000. The tool grants are meant to recognize the student’s outstanding efforts in qualifying to compete at the national SkillsUSA event and help prepare them for a career within the collision industry.
“This donation aligns very well with our LIFT charitable giving program, which focuses on helping those in need to build sustainable roots for lasting change,” said Rick Tuuri, VP of Industry Relations, AudaExplore. ”Helping people get started in this industry is in our DNA, as our Founder and CEO, Tony Aquila, started as many technicians do; sweeping floors in a body shop. The U.S. Department of Labor projected the employment growth of the automotive body segment to be 13 percent from 2012 to 2022. SkillsUSA and the Collision Repair Education Foundation have done a fantastic job enhancing career opportunities for students to take advantage of this growth and we are proud to be a part of it.”
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski noted, “This is the 2nd year that AudaExplore has awarded the collision repair and refinishing students with these tool grants and it’s a great display to these state winners that there is an industry that recognizes their accomplishments and skill. As these students are the potential future members of the industry, I commend AudaExplore on this reward for the ‘best of the best’ students through the SkillsUSA competition.”
For additional information about AudaExplore’s LIFT program, visit http://www.solerainc.com/about-us/lift. Inter-industry organizations and individuals who are interested in supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation and increase the amount of assistance provided to collision schools and students should contact Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at Brandon.Eckenrode@ed‑foundation.org / 847.463.5244.
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA helps students discover and grow their career passions. As a nationwide partnership of students, instructors and industry working together, SkillsUSA works to ensure America has a skilled workforce. It helps every student excel. The nationwide career and technical education student organization annually serves more than 300,000 high school, college and postsecondary students—and their instructors—in technical, skilled, and service occupation instructional programs. Career and technical education is learning that works for America. SkillsUSA has the active support of more than 600 corporations, trade associations, business and labor unions at the national level. Over 11 million people have been annual members of SkillsUSA since its founding as the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America on May 8, 1965. SkillsUSA programs teach leadership, citizenship and character development to complement technical skill training. The organization emphasizes respect for the dignity of work, ethics, workmanship, scholarship and safety. For more information, go to: www.skillsusa.org
About the Collision Repair Education Foundation
The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us online at: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.
About AudaExplore
As owners expect greater service throughout the life of their vehicle, AudaExplore helps businesses reimagine the ownership experience through its proven data-driven solutions. By delivering global data, easy-to-use technology and deeper insights into the ownership lifecycle, AudaExplore is leading the industry in making insurance carriers, repairers, dealerships and fleet owners more competitive and profitable. AudaExplore is a business unit of Solera Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLH), the leading global claims solutions provider serving the automotive industry. For more information, visit http://www.audaexplore.com/, or follow us
