By working alongside the Collision Repair Education Foundation, AudaExplore has pledged a three-year commitment of $75,000 in tool grants that will be awarded to all high school and post-secondary collision repair and refinishing students competing at the national SkillsUSA contest.
By working together with industry companies and their student product discounts, the retail value of these tools will exceed $150,000. The tool grants are meant to recognize the students’ outstanding efforts in qualifying to compete at the national SkillsUSA event and help prepare them for careers within the collision industry.
“This donation aligns well with our LIFT charitable giving program, which focuses on helping those in need to build sustainable roots for lasting change,” said Rick Tuuri, vice president of industry relations, AudaExplore. “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.”
Added SkillsUSA Executive Director Tim Lawrence, “SkillsUSA is thrilled that AudaExplore is stepping up to support our students and the future of the collision repair industry. And, we are very excited that the Collision Repair Education Foundation and AudaExplore are working together to support America’s future skilled workforce through this generous donation of tool grants for the SkillsUSA students who have reached a level of national excellence in their preparation and training for the collision repair and refinish industry. This commitment from AudaExplore and the Collision Repair Education Foundation will help jump-start the careers of young men and women who aspire to be the very best in their field of study and who will be the future leaders of our skilled and technical workforce.”
“I would like to commend AudaExplore in recognizing these students as they represent the ‘best of the best’ collision repair and refinishing students from around the country who have competed at the local and state level to earn the right to travel to Kansas City,” said Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive Director Clark Plucinski. “It is important that the collision industry shows these future industry professionals that they are valued, and this student tool grant is an incredible display of highlighting their achievements.”
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