On April 20, 2011, SCRS MO-KAN – the Society of Collision
Repair Specialists’ (SCRS) longstanding chapter – will hold its 2011 Education
Night of Achievement at the Marriott Overland Park in Overland Park, Kan.
To help provide maximum exposure to the event, SCRS and
the March Taylor Education Foundation have teamed up to make it economically
feasible for 55 students and teachers from across the states of Kansas and Missouri
to attend.
The Education Night of Achievement is a celebration of
collision repair technical education. The evening’s highlight is the
presentation of the Jerry Frese Award to the top three collision repair
technical students in the MO-KAN area. The award recognizes excellence in all
aspects of scholastic life, including technical prowess and community
involvement. Each finalist receives a trophy, in addition to tool credits for
$500, $350 and $250, for first-, second- or third-place finishes.
"This is the culmination of a yearly process that
begins when we solicit nominations from local schools with a collision repair
curriculum," said SCRS Mo-Kan Chairman Colette Bruce. "The
instructors submit forms with a detailed description and evaluation of the
student. Our educational committee goes through those submissions to determine
which three nominees have especially gone above and beyond what is
required."
SCRS MO-KAN’s goal is to give soon-to-be-professionals
maximum exposure to the positive career options provided by the collision
repair industry. For that reason, the association encourages and facilitates
the attendance of as many students and teachers as possible. Vendors and area
shop owners likewise attend, providing students an opportunity to mingle with
potential business and employment contacts in an informal setting.
"We’re connecting students with the life opening up
before them to help make the transition a smooth one," added Bruce.
"For example, we feature former students as guest speakers to talk about
their experiences starting a career. We also encourage students in attendance to
speak a little bit about themselves. It’s a heartwarming experience to see
these young people become aware of their own career potential."
As important as the Education Night of Achievement may
be, making it happen can be a challenge. Putting on an evening-long program
with dinner requires resources and transportation. In some cases, lodging for
traveling students and teachers, along with a number of other expenses, must be
underwritten. As funding for technical education continues to shrink, SCRS
MO-KAN has turned to the collision repair industry, including local vendors, to
step in and pick up the slack.
The SCRS National and the March Taylor Education
Foundation-which provides educational grants to help collision repair
technicians further their training-are providing this year. Between the two of
them they are ensuring that 55 students (SCRS 30; the March Taylor Education
Foundation 25) will be able to enjoy the Education Night of Achievement.
"March was an avid supporter of education,
specifically that which goes into the making of the future technicians of our
industry," said Dale Matsumoto, the Foundation’s administrator. "The
decision to sponsor the students was not difficult…it is something we know
March would certainly support."
SCRS congratulates the MO-KAN Chapter for its support of
a viable future industry workforce, and salute the winners, as well as the rest
of students in attendance.
"It’s no secret that young technicians are the
future of the industry, and it’s heartening to see the MO-KAN Chapter step up
and consistently do what it can to ensure that quality prospects join the
workforce," said SCRS Executive Director Aaron Schulenburg. "The
Education Night of Achievement places one of our most vital resources in a
well-deserved spotlight. We are only too glad to provide the support needed to
facilitate this important mission."
More information:
March Taylor Education Foundation
