Bridgerland Applied Technology College of Logan, Utah, was selected from over 50 school applications and is the recipient of the 2010 Collision Repair Education Foundation’s (formerly the I-CAR Education Foundation) Ultimate Collision Education Makeover $50,000 school grant. This is the second annual makeover school grant provided by the Education Foundation.
Bridgerland’s application displayed a strongly supported collision program through Instructor and Department Head Kevin Cornia, Associate Vice President John Davidson, as well as local industry members that serve on the school’s advisory committee. The Education Foundation will begin working together with industry supporters to help fulfill the college’s $50,000 wish list for their collision program, which will benefit not only current but also future collision students.
“This experience is incredible, and the opportunities that will be presented to our school and students will be amazing,” said Bridgerland collision instructor Kevin Cornia, who was in attendance at SEMA for the makeover announcement. “I look forward to working with Melissa Marscin of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, as well as the rest of the Education Foundation group, for this grant in this upcoming year.”
Scott Kruger, Collision Repair Education Foundation executive director, stated, “The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover program provides a remarkable opportunity to witness the transformation not only of a high-performing school into a world-class facility, but also the effect this level of investment and commitment has on collision students. These young men and women are excited by every new piece of equipment, every new tool, and even the new paint on the walls and the floors. You can feel their pride and commitment in their training and through their drive to join the collision industry.”
John Davidson, associate vice president of Bridgerland Applied Technology College, added, “The Education Foundation grant is an amazing opportunity for our students. We will be able to receive things that have been on the request list for ten years, but because of budget restraints we haven’t been able to afford. We already had a strong Auto Collision program and this grant will allow us to move it to the next level. What a great opportunity for our students.”
The 2009 Makeover winning school was Steel Center AVTS in Jefferson Hills, Pa., and through the generous support and donations from industry organizations, the foundation was able to provide Steel Center with $80,000 in tools, equipment and supplies, surpassing the requested $50,000.
In addition to Steel Center AVTS receiving $80,000 from the award, the schools that applied for the 2009 grant still benefited from the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover program. In total, the 35 schools each received an average of $5,000 in products, supplies and equipment for a total value over $175,000. Every school that applied for the grant received at least one item to benefit their students and collision program.
For 2010, the goal is to once again support all schools that applied for the grant. The 2010 applicants have already had the opportunity to receive items from Airgas, Fibre-Glass Evercoat, Sherwin-Williams, UltraWiz, as well as Cintas technician shirts. With the generous support from the industry, the Education Foundation is looking to at least double the total support from 2009 to 2010 for schools that applied for the grant.
The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant and other collision student and school support opportunities provided by the Collision Repair Education Foundation are made possible through industry donations. If you are interested in getting involved with the Foundation and joining its efforts to support the future of the collision industry, please contact Foundation Associate Director of Development, Brandon Eckenrode at 847.463.5244.
