3M, Collision Repair Education Foundation Gifts 58 Grants to Veterans and Family Members Through Hire Our Heroes Program

3M, Collision Repair Education Foundation Gift 58 Grants to Veterans and Family Members Through Hire Our Heroes Program

The recipients include 54 students who are currently studying collision repair, and who have served or are currently serving in the military, and four collision students who have immediate family members who served or are serving in the military.

3M Automotive Aftermarket Division, along with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, have honored 58 recipients with this year’s 3M Hire Our Heroes awards. The recipients include 54 students who are currently studying collision repair and who have served or are currently serving in the military.

Each winning veteran student has the opportunity to select $1,500 worth of tools as part of the award. For those students graduating this year, they will have the opportunity to select an additional $1,500 in tools upon graduation and upon getting hired into the collision industry. There are additional $1,000 scholarships for select veterans.

3M Hire Our Heroes Veteran Grant Recipients

  • Ray Alston – U.S. Army Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, N.C.
  • Alexandros Aslanis – U.S. Marines Parkland College, Champaign, Ill.
  • Michael Baker – U.S. Army Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Morristown, Tenn.
  • Peter Beasley – U.S. Air Force Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Kirkland, Wash.
  • Michael Carroll – U.S. Army Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, N.C.
  • James Cash – U.S. Army Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Matthew Conley – U.S. Army Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Russell Cook – U.S. Army Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, Okla.
  • David Cortes – U.S. Army Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, N.C.
  • Roan Cowart – U.S. Army Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Roger Cox – U.S. Army Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, Okla.
  • William Crowder – U.S. Army Arkansas State University, Newport, Ariz.
  • John Curlett – U.S. Coast Guard Florida State College, Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Lawrence Daniels – U.S. Army Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Oneida, Tenn.
  • Kris Dindoffer – U.S. Army Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Daniel Dwyer – U.S. Army National Guard Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Ill.
  • Ryan Folker – U.S. Marines Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • Robert Garrison – U.S. Navy Portland Community College, Portland, Ore.
  • Scott Gray – U.S. Air Force Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne, Wy.
  • Scott Heise – U.S. Army Manhattan Area Technical College, Manhattan, Kan.
  • Alex Henderson – U.S. Army National Guard Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, Wis.
  • Stacey Hildreth – U.S. Army South Western Community College, Creston, Iowa
  • Kevin Hill – U.S. Army Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Gerald Howell – U.S. Army WITC, Rice Lake, Wis.
  • Willie Hutchinson – U.S. Army Texas State Technical College, Waco, Texas
  • Scot Johnson – U.S. Air Force Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, Okla.
  • Blake Kizer – U.S. Marines Scott Community College, Bettendorf, Iowa
  • Charles Kovach – U.S. Marines Highland Community College, Freeport, Ill.
  • Billy Logan – U.S. Army National Guard Cleveland County Community College, Shelby, N.C.
  • Randell Lute – U.S. Army Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, N.C.
  • Marvin Martin – U.S. Army Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, Valdosta, Ga.
  • Matthew Moody – U.S. Army Eastfield College, Mesquite, Texas
  • Pedro Moreno – U.S. Army Autry Technology Center, Enid, Okla.
  • Christopher Mussel – U.S. Army Reserves Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, N.C.
  • William Plont – U.S. Army National Guard Athens Technical College, Athens, Ga.
  • Erick Rebelukag – U.S. Army Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, Wash.
  • Javier Rey – U.S. Navy Texas State Technical College, Harlingen, Texas
  • Aaron Rhines – U.S. Army Bellingham Technical College, Bellingham, Wash.
  • Robert Rioux – U.S. Marines Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Alexander Romero II – U.S. Marines Morgan Community College, Fort Morgan, Col.
  • Dariel Saldana – U.S. Army National Guard Automotive Training Center, Warminster, Pa.
  • Aaron Schaffer – U.S. Army National Guard Ivy Tech Community College, Terre Haute, Ind.
  • Joseph Schmidt – U.S. Air National Guard Washburn Institute of Technology, Topeka, Kan.
  • Ramiro Serrano – U.S. Army Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Doug Smallwood – U.S. Navy Lake Technical College, Eustis, Fla.
  • Matthew Smith – U.S. Air Force Lenoir Community College, Kinston, N.C.
  • Jacob Talsma – U.S. Army National Guard Ridgewater College, Willmar, Minn.
  • Joshua Tapia – U.S. Army Universal Technical Institute, Houston, Texas
  • Brandon Thames – U.S. Marines Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, Miss.
  • Austin Vorasith – U.S. Army Reserves DMACC, Ankeny, Iowa
  • Eric Wade – U.S. Air Force Pulaski Technical College, North Little Rock, Ark.
  • Leeland Warren – U.S. Army Morgan County Community College, Fort Morgan, Col.
  • Randall Wright – U.S. Army Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, Okla.

In addition, four collision students who have immediate family members who served or are serving in the military were selected as scholarship winners. Each student received an award of $2,500 to help with their education costs.

3M Hire Our Heroes – Veteran Family Award Recipients

  • Caelan Campbell Automotive Technology Center, Troutman N.C.
  • Denovario Goode Gadsden State, Anniston, Ala.
  • Ashley McNamara Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  • Vaughn Weaver Kansas City Kansas Community College, Kansas City, Kan.

This is the fourth year that 3M has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of the industry and nation’s veterans. Since 2013, the 3M Hire Our Heroes program has generated $750,000 to be used toward scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members. Nearly 210 military veterans and their families have already received scholarships and grants.

“Supporting both our industry and our military veterans remains a high priority for us,” said Dale Ross, U.S. marketing operations manager for 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “This year, we were excited to have our customers and 3M employees join us in supporting the 3M Hire Our Heroes program by donating more than $200,000 through the calendar campaign.”

You May Also Like

NABC Donates Recycled Ride to Tucson, Ariz. Family

The NABC, Allstate, Maaco and  Meineke Car Care recently donated a refurbished vehicle to a deserving Tucson, Ariz.-area mom.

The National Auto Body Council (NABC), along with Allstate, Maaco and Meineke Car Care, recently donated a refurbished vehicle to a deserving Tucson, Ariz.-area mom via the NABC's Recycled Rides program. The presentation was held at the Meineke Car Care center in Tucson.

Johana Aguilar, a mother of four, was nominated as what the Child and Family Resources agency called “the perfect candidate” for the Recycled Rides program. Two of her four children require special schooling and medical appointments, and her husband has been ill. The only vehicle they have had has been unreliable. This fully refurbished 2016 Jeep Compass will ease her life tremendously. Freedom Brands owns four Maaco centers and five Meineke Car Care centers throughout the greater Phoenix and Tucson regions. 

ASE Practice Tests Available Online

ASE is encouraging those pursuing certification to take the official practice tests as part of their test preparation process.

Corby’s Collision Center: Since 1942

Bentley (Bud) and Evelyn Corby started Corby’s in a little gas station in Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

CIF Announces Enterprise as Repeat Annual Donor

Enterprise has donated for the fourth consecutive time at the Urgent Care (second highest) tier.

NABC Donates Recycled Ride to Central Georgia Mom

The NAB), GEICO and Five Star Collision Center-Wimbish recently donated a refurbished vehicle to a deserving mother of four.

Other Posts

NABC Donates Recycled Rides at NORTHEAST Show

The NABC, GEICO, Mountain View Auto and Collision Center of New Jersey donated two refurbished vehicles at the recent NORTHEAST Show.

Crash Champions Expands in Idaho

Crash Champions has announced the acquisition of Addison Collision Repair in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Auto Care Association Welcomes GAO Report on Vehicle Repair Restrictions

The Auto Care Association is renewing its call for Congress to advance federal Right to Repair legislation that protects independent business owners and consumers.

ProColor Collision Welcomes First Shop in Montana

ProColor Collision Gallatin Valley is operated by Robert Rinta and Simon Gratch, who both served honorably in the Montana National Guard.