The I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with AkzoNobel and The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry (MIW), is awarding eight young women with scholarships to assist in their education and advancement in the collision industry.
The top scholarship winner in the Secondary category is Margaret Mackenzie Hooper, a student at Applied Technology Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Hooper will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship to continue her education and career in the collision industry.
“I’ve been her instructor for over a year now and she lives for this field,” said Mark Dellinger, an instructor at Applied Technology Center. “I’ve been teaching at this school for six years, and Mackenzie is the first female student to show this much interest. Mackenzie is constantly learning and showing the skills she has acquired in this program…I have been impressed with her body work this far; it is better than the majority of the traditional students in my class.”
The top scholarship winner in the Post-Secondary category is Susan Butler, a student at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wis. Butler will also be awarded a $5,000 scholarship to continue her education and further her career.
“Susan has aspirations to become an Auto Physical Damage Appraiser, a position that will compliment her many years of dealing with people as an insurance agent…She looks at every challenge as an opportunity, and her passion for learning does not go unnoticed,” said Jerome Goodson, an instructor at Fox Valley Technical College. “Of all of the students in my class, Susan stands out as the one who really has her long-term goals in mind and it is my belief that she will be very successful in whatever facet of the collision industry she may choose.”
In addition to Hooper and Butler, six runner-up scholarships were awarded to students from career and technical schools and colleges around the United States. All of the runner-ups will receive a $2,500 scholarship to continue their education.
In the Secondary category, the I-CAR Education Foundation congratulates: Sara Berk from Harford Technical High School in Bel-Air, Md.; Jessica Dancer from South East Career and Technical Academy in Henderson, Nev.; and Mariah Scott from Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka, Kan.
In the Post-Secondary category, the foundation congratulates: Erin Havard from WyoTech in West Sacramento, Calif.; Nina Hunter from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah; and Samantha Neu from Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka, Kan.
“This marks the 10th anniversary of The Most Influential Women of the Collision Industry program and the I-CAR Education Foundation is proud to partner again with AkzoNobel on this scholarship program and reward these talented, future female collision industry employees,” said I-CAR Education Foundation Executive Director Scott Kruger.
Tim Loden, director of marketing for AkzoNobel Car Refinishes Americas, added: “Saluting the courage and determination to grow, improve and give back is a central theme to the Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry program. We congratulate each scholarship recipient and are honored to play a small role in their career pursuits.”
More information:
• AkzoNobel Names Most Influential Women in the Collision Repair Industry
