HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. –The I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with AkzoNobel Coatings Inc. and The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry, has awarded eight young women with scholarships to assist in their education and advancement in the collision industry.
The top scholarship winner in the Secondary category is Nina Hunter, a student at East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Ariz. Hunter will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Neil Carroll, an instructor at East Valley Institute of Technology said, “Nina has had several challenges in her life. She is a Russian orphan and was adopted at seven years old. She has had to acclimate to several changes as well as learning a new language. It is exceptional to see any females succeed in our collision program due to the diverse ethnic and social structure of our students. [Nina] has learned to stand up for herself and is prepared to face the social challenges in the industry…I have been teaching for seventeen years and can’t think of any student more deserving.”
The top scholarship winner in the Post-Secondary category is Bonnie Peterson, a student at Cypress College in Cypress, CA. Peterson will also be awarded a $5,000 scholarship. Dan Snook, an instructor at Cypress College said, “Bonnie has always strived to do her best in a male dominated industry, completing assignments and given duties on or before due dates with great enthusiasm. A typical school day for Bonnie starts at 7:30 am and finishes at 10:00 pm long after many other students have gone home.”
In addition to Hunter and Peterson, six runner-up scholarships were awarded to students from career and technical schools and colleges around the United States. All of the runner-ups will receive a $2,500 scholarship. In the Secondary category, the Education Foundation congratulates: Brittney Baker from Rolla Technical Institute in Rolla, Mo.; Tiffany Dunn from Orange/Ulster CTEC in Goshen, N.Y. and Tynika Howard from Saginaw Career Complex in Saginaw, Mich.
In the Post-Secondary category, the Education Foundation congratulates: Jennifer Engelbrecht from Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kan.; Melissa Jamie Strong from Aims Community College in Greeley, Col. and Alicia Wade from Kishwaukee College in Malta, Ill.
“Scholarships, like AkzoNobel’s ‘Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry,’ make a significant positive impact in the lives of students enrolled in a collision education program,” said Scott Kruger, I-CAR Education Foundation Executive Director. “Students, like the young women honored here, are making a considerable commitment to their education and training – the I-CAR Education Foundation is proud to have partners like AkzoNobel who recognize their commitment and are willing to invest in their future. Congratulations to all of these talented young women and thank you to AkzoNobel for their generosity in recognizing the hard work and dedication of those who are the future of the collision industry.”
A total of 339 career and technical schools and colleges that are ASE-certified to the NATEF standards in collision repair and refinishing received a letter and student application for this scholarship. Both the female student applicant and instructor were asked to write a short essay explaining why the student should be awarded the scholarship.
Established in 1999, The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry program annually recognizes the leadership contributions that are made by a unique group of individuals that have dedicated themselves to the betterment of this industry and their communities.
The Executive Committee of the Education Foundation Board of Trustees made the final selection of winners. The Executive Committee consists of:
Chairman Chris Evans, State Farm Insurance Companies
Vice-Chairman Roland Taube, AkzoNobel Canada
Treasurer Doug Webb, CSi Complete
Secretary Steve Seidner, Seidner’s Collision Centers
Trustee-at-Large Bill Daly, Allstate Insurance Company
Trustee-at-Large Gregory Settle, Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
Immediate Past Chairman Clark Plucinski, True2Form Collision Repair Centers
