The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced that applications for its 2024 scholarship program are now open. Also, that it has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to administer and expand its 2024 WIN collision repair student scholarships.
“Our scholarship team was looking to expand the pool of eligible students, and CREF is well-known within the industry with its wider reach that perfectly coincides with our collective target audiences,” said Laura Kottschade, chair of the WIN 2024 Scholarship Committee. “It has the necessary structure to administer a more expansive application and evaluation program with us.
“In addition, this allows WIN committee volunteers to focus on building relationships with students to ensure their success, help them interact with other students on the same career path and match WIN members who can assist with additional mentoring as needed.”
Added CREF Director of Operations and Impact Melissa Marscin, “Helping students pursue a collision education without accruing debt has made a huge impact for hundreds of students over the years, and CREF is thankful for the industry supporters like WIN who have made this possible by continuing to step up and donate to fund these annual scholarships and tool grants.”
With applications open through March 8, 2024, the WIN collision repair student scholarships scholarships are presented annually to deserving students enrolled in post-secondary collision repair technology programs. This past year, WIN expanded its signature scholarship program, financially supporting a record 20 female students who demonstrated a desire to excel in the field of collision repair.
This coincides with WIN’s new student engagement program which offers extensive mentorship opportunities where WIN student associates connect with other members who are in a similar stage in their lives. The program provides networking and individual connection with women in the industry who can share relevant experiences from their success. These networking groups support new female entrants to the collision repair field and hopefully create lifetime friendships that further WIN goals for longer term career advancement and retention.
As part of the application process, each WIN Scholarship applicant is registered for and receives a complimentary WIN student membership. WIN also supports collision repair instructors with access to free WIN memberships through the Pay It Forward campaign.
The expanded WIN Scholarship program offers the college student tuition and conference acholarship awards on two financial levels, Champion and Stars. Recipients are awarded a scholarship ranging from $500 up to $2,500 based on the selection team’s evaluation of their application and the interview process. They also receive WIN wearables, branded items and complimentary registration for attendance to the virtual format of the annual WIN Conference to be held May 5-8, 2024 in Newport Beach, Calif.
As is tradition, one of the on-site conference highlights is the annual WIN Scholarship Walk which will take place May 7 at 7 a.m. Participation is not limited to in-person conference attendees — virtual attendees or non-attending friends, family and colleagues are invited to support this program by organizing their own community walk or gifting their registration fee. No walking required! To register for the WIN Scholarship Walk, click here.
One of the most important benefits for WIN scholarship recipients is receiving a customized, well-stocked tool kit. Complete kits like these are imperative as students begin their professional journey in collision repair, as apprentices often have to share basic tools or lack the higher-end tools they need to successfully complete their projects. All scholarship recipients will receive tool kits valued at over $500.
All applicants must be high school seniors or post-secondary students currently enrolled (at the time of application) in a collision repair program and must have been studying collision repair for at least one semester prior to applying for the awards. Students will be considered for all scholarships/tool grants that they’re eligible for based on the individual eligibility factors of each award. These eligibility factors can include gender; school attending; year in school; future plans; outside activities; and/or financial need.
The collision instructor must complete the collision repair school solutions survey in order for his/her students to be eligible for any of the scholarship/tool grant opportunities.
To apply for the WIN 2024 Scholarship program, click here.
To learn more about WIN’s scholarship program, click here.
