The March Taylor Memorial Fund (MTMF) has donated $5,000 to offset the costs of sending two USA participants – Scott Raymond for the Collision Division and Ben Janke for the Refinish Division – to the World Skills Competition being held in Calgary, Canada from Sept. 1-7.
Raymond was the gold medal winner in both the State (Massachusetts) and National Skills USA competitions in 2007 and will represent the USA in the autobody collision repair event. At the National Skills USA Competition in Kansas City, Scott achieved the highest score in collision repair technology in the history of the competition.
While his home state association, the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, has always paid for its state winner’s airfare and hotel to Kansas City for the nationals, this time it is seeking assistance from the industry so Raymond and his family can attend the World Skills competition without worrying about the costs.
Janke was the gold medal winner in the refinish division, recently graduating from the Madison Area Technical College Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Technician program. He is currently working at Rock Lake Paint & Repair in Lake Mills, Wis., and is continuing his education in the Automotive Technology division. After training in Maryland recently at the Center for Applied Technologies – North to further develop skills needed to compete at WorldSkills, Janke says he’s excited to participate in the upcoming competition.
"One of my instructors took me for a ride in a great car, and from there I was hooked," said Janke in a recent interview. "I am drawn to the refinish side because anyone can bolt on parts, but it takes an artist to do a great paint job. To take a wrecked car and make it new again makes me feel good. I like custom and creative."
Tim Hoege, Janke’s instructor for the competition, commented on his hard work and dedication to the auto industry: "It has been a pleasure to work with him. It is an honor to have someone attend WorldSkills from our school and to be able to go as well. You just don’t think it could happen, and then it does."
The MTMF says it’s happy to assist the two technicians.
"This is an extremely important event, and we are pleased to be able to support two world-class technicians in his endeavor to represent the USA Skills Team,” said Barry Dorn, MTMF board member. "Scott Raymond not only won the USA World Skills Competition, he did so with record-setting performances. March Taylor would be very proud of these two young men."
Toby Chess, MTMF board member, added, "I would encourage anyone and any entity associated with the collision repair industry to send contributions toward this effort. These gentlemen have earned the industry’s support.”
Donations for Scott Raymond can made out to the Massachusetts Auto Body Association Scholarship Fund, with Scott Raymond in the memo section. Donations should be sent to the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, 20 East Street, Hanover, MA 02061. All donations are tax-deductible, and 100 percent of the funds will go toward Raymond’s training, travel and meal expenses. Call Stephen Regan at 617-257-1222 if you have any questions.
Donations for Ben Janke can be made out to the Youth Development Foundation with Ben Janke in the memo section and mailed to YDF, P.O. Box 100532, Atlanta, GA 30384 (a division for SkillsUSA). Call Ada Kranenburg at SkillsUSA, 703-777-8810, with any questions.
For more information about MTMF, visit www.MarchTaylorMemorial.com or call 800-574-3810.
