The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) announced it has joined together with the March Taylor Memorial Fund to recognize some of the best and brightest career and technical students in the nation at the SkillsUSA Championships held June 22-26 in Louisville, Ky.
“SCRS’ focus has always been to educate, inform and represent the industry, and at times, that representation is accomplished by supporting programs that promote excellence in our craft,” said SCRS Chairman Andy Dingman. “Finding motivated individuals who exhibit the necessary technical skill sets is something that our business – and every other quality repairer in the country – is constantly in need of. It is important to us at SCRS to make sure that those students exhibiting that level of drive and determination are rewarded and supported as they enter into the trade. We want future technicians to know that there is an industry, and industry groups, which are committed to supporting their success.”
Due to matching contributions from both organizations, competitors in the following categories who are awarded a Gold Medal will each receive a $1,250 tool scholarship that will be made available in the form of a credit to specified equipment and supply companies who support SkillsUSA. The awards will be provided as follows:
- $1,250 Gold Medal – Collision Repair – High School
- $1,250 Gold Medal – Collision Repair – Post Secondary
- $1,250 Gold Medal – Automotive Refinish – High School
- $1,250 Gold Medal – Automotive Refinish – Post Secondary
The March Taylor Memorial Fund was established in 2007 in honor of a beloved shop owner, SCRS board member and friend to many in the industry.
“March Taylor lived and worked in the trade, and his life embodied the skilled work done on the collision facility floor,” said Jeff Hendler, Fund Committee member. “The many donors to the March Taylor Memorial Fund came forward to benefit the technicians who labor daily within the many businesses across this country. The donations came in the name of a man who was a mentor to so many, and his heart was 100 percent in finding opportunities to advance people in the industry forward. Being able to set future technicians up with the basic tools they need to enter the trade is absolutely something he would have supported, and he would have wanted to do it in partnership with SCRS.”
Added SCRS Vice Chairman Kye Yeung, “I say it almost every year, the SkillsUSA program is a showcase of skill and achievement, and it gives me so much hope for the future of our industry. We need to encourage and embrace this type of commitment to excellence. There is a shortage of quality entry-level technicians in this industry, but not at this competition. I hope there is a day that the industry sees this as one of the leading recruitment tools for our workforce.”
In addition to the tool scholarships, SCRS provides all technical schools that have students competing in the National Championship with a year-long courtesy membership in SCRS to keep the school, instructors and students connected to industry developments.
The March Taylor Education Foundation was established in 2007 to benefit collision repair technicians. The criteria for applying for educational grants is that qualifying individuals must have been employed within the collision industry for a minimum of two years, must be currently employed within the industry and their employer must be a member of a local, state or national collision industry organization. The March Taylor Memorial Fund will accept applications at any time. The application will determine the type of grant awarded. Grants will consist of I-CAR coupons, partial or full payment for industry training classes, or awards to attend industry events. Distribution of the awards will be based on meeting the basic criteria, the applicant’s needs and quality of the application received.
