Feb. 17, 2016—The National Auto Body Council has announced that a total of 13 technical schools across the country are now enrolled in the Recycled Rides for Schools program.
In 2015, students repaired and donated eight vehicles with an additional 14 vehicles already in the works for 2016. Since the inception of the overall Recycled Rides program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council have donated over 1,000 vehicles.
"Through Recycled Rides for Schools, students realize that their chosen profession, collision repair, is one that is admired and needed by the local community," said Bob Medved, chair of the Recycled Rides for Schools program. "This fosters pride in those students when they can see the positive effect their work has on people in need.”
Students participating in Recycled Rides for Schools are involved in all phases of the project. Vehicles are initially donated by insurance rental car, salvage or auction companies. In addition to repairing the vehicle, students collaborate with businesses to solicit contributions of parts, materials and services and help review candidates.
The 13 schools currently enrolled in Recycled Rides for Schools include:
- Central Nine Career Center, Greenwood, Ind.
- Cerritos College, Norwalk, Calif.
- Chesterfield Career and Technical Center, Chesterfield, Va.
- Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa
- Forbes Road Career and Technical College, Monroeville, Penn.
- Greenville Technical College, Greenville, S.C.
- Holmes High School, San Antonio, Texas
- Kishwaukee College, Malta, Ill.
- Manhattan Area Technical School, Manhattan, Kan.
- Oxford Hills Technical School, Oxford, Maine
- Ranken Technical College, St. Louis
- Washburn Institute of Technology, Topeka, Kan.
- Western Nevada College, Carson City, Nev.
“It is gratifying to see so many more schools and instructors who recognize the value of teaching career skills as well as social responsibility,” said Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the National Auto Body Council. “We encourage more schools to join their efforts to help ensure a future generation that exemplifies the professionalism and integrity of collision repair professionals.”
