The Collision Repair Education Foundation will be hosting an open house event at Maxwell High School of Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga., on Wednesday, April 8 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in recognition of their 2013 Makeover school grant that was provided by the I-CAR Atlanta Volunteer Committee. This event will be taking place in conjunction with the Collision Industry Conference (CIC) meetings being held at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia that week. Hertz Corp. will be providing transportation for CIC attendees to and from the hotel and the school so that industry members can see how the grant has transformed Maxwell’s collision program. Industry guests will be transported back to the Crowne Plaza in time for the CIC meetings that afternoon.
“The Atlanta I‑CAR Committee is made up from all aspects of the collision industry,” said Gerry Poirier, Atlanta I-CAR chairman and Farmers Insurance national APD manager. “The ability to accomplish our successful fundraising is due to the dedication of each and every member. This dedication has resulted in our ability to give back to this great industry by providing the 2013 Makeover grant to Maxwell High School of Technology, scholarships for collision school students along with materials and tools. This will help replenish our dwindling shortage of people coming into the collision repair field. I encourage all industry members to come out and see what can be done to promote the collision industry starting in our local schools.”
Added Maxwell High School of Technology Principal Dr. Jeff Hall, “I-CAR and the Education Foundation continue to be one of Maxwell’s biggest supporters. They continually provide tools and equipment that enhance our industry-certified program in teaching students how to perform automotive vehicle body repair and refinishing skills. As you know, these skills lead to excellent jobs as an estimator, body repair technician, refinishing technician or employment in a shop office or insurance claims office. Our instructor’s aptitude and desire to produce quality student work, in and out of the classroom, can only be enhanced with the industry’s support of our program. With the industry’s continued support and the hard work of our instructors, Mr. Butch Luther and Mr. Sam Melaragno, I believe our program is in the top cadre of auto collision programs nationwide. We sincerely thank I-CAR and the Education Foundation for its belief in a strong education program for our students.”
Collision Repair Education Foundation Director of Development Brandon Eckenrode noted, “The Atlanta I‑CAR Volunteer Committee has organized several annual fundraisers through the Education Foundation and has raised nearly $100,000 that is re-invested into Atlanta-area collision school programs and students. As the industry is gathering in Atlanta for the CIC events, we wanted to be able to recognize this group for their support and how they have been able to completely transform Maxwell’s collision school program in an effort to help ensure that their students have a quality technical education. We invite all visiting and local industry members to join us for this event.”
Collision industry members are asked to RSVP for this event by emailing Brandon Eckenrode at [email protected] by March 27.