The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2015 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover school grant winners were announced at the organization’s annual industry reception held during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where more than $250,000 in grants were awarded. More than 140 high school and college collision school programs from across the country applied for this grant, and each of the 2015 winning schools will have their $50,000 wish list fulfilled through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and industry donors/supporters. The Makeover program has given out more than $3 million in donations to applicant schools since 2009.

2015 Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by Allstate Insurance

East Valley Institute of Technology (Mesa, Ariz.)

2015 Post-Secondary Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant made possible by State Farm Insurance

Saint Cloud Technical and Community College (Saint Cloud, Minn.)

In addition to the secondary and post-secondary awards, there were two $50,000 grants that were awarded to specific regions of the country.

2015 Dallas Makeover Grant

Texas State Technical College (Waco, Texas)

The Dallas Makeover Grant was sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, Caliber Collision, GEICO, Herb’s Collision and Nationwide Insurance.

2015 Atlanta I-CAR Committee Makeover Grant in Conjunction with Industry Partners

Athens Technical College (Athens, Ga.)

The award in Atlanta was sponsored by ABRA Auto Body & Glass; Allstate; American Family Insurance; Axalta; Caliber Collision; CCC Information Services; Classic Collision; Enterprise; Farmers Insurance; Finishmaster; Georgia Farm Bureau; Hendrick Automotive; IAAI; I-CAR; Liberty Mutual Insurance; LKQ/Keystone; Nalley Group; Rimkus; Progressive Insurance; Safeco; Service King; Sherwin Williams; and Sports and Imports.

The Collision Repair Education Foundation also awarded several runner-up Makeover grants, and each of these schools will have $5,000-$12,500 of their collision program wish lists fulfilled:

2015 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Secondary Runner-Up School Recipients

$10,000 – Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (San Jose, Calif.)

$10,000 – Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School (South Easton, Mass.)

2015 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Post-Secondary Runner-Up School Recipients

$12,500 – College of Lake County (Grayslake, Ill.)

$7,500 – Pulaski Tech (North Little Rock, Ariz.)

The goal of the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant is to honor a school that has been doing an outstanding job in educating students in collision repair but needs some financial assistance to improve their program’s teaching materials and equipment. With strained school budgets, the Education Foundation and industry supporters have the opportunity to bridge the program’s financial gap and to make a difference in the lives of the students studying collision repair. As part of the Makeover grant application, schools provide an itemized wish list, which can include any tools, supplies and equipment that are needed by the collision program.

Companies interested in sponsoring a 2016 Makeover grant and questions regarding the Education Foundation’s efforts to support the future of the collision industry can contact Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode at [email protected] or (847) 463-5244.