LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4, 2019—Collision repair students from across the country came to the 2019 SEMA on Monday to get industry knowledge and hear about the latest trends.
Presenters first pitched their products for aftermarket parts and tech tools at the SEMA Launch Pad competition before heading to an industry room. There, students were able to speak directly with industry players, collision brands and associations.
A small group from Luna Community College in Las Vegas came to SEMA with their instructor to bolster their collision program. Joshua Corbin, a student just about to graduate, said that he wanted to network and learn, but he's also looking to raise his school's profile.
"I'm trying to support our program itself," Corbin says. "We're trying to talk to people about our state."
Collision repair instructor Anthony Baca said that theirs is the only program in New Mexico with NATEF certification.
Amelia Vance, a first-year student at Salt Lake Community College in Sandy, Utah, said that it was heartening to see representatives there interested in hiring. It was a positive sign for her job prospects after graduation.
Another Salt Lake CC student, Josabet Arreola, said that the networking and knowledge were just parts of the tool set.
"Once you stop learning, you don't grow," she says.
