CREF awards $22,500 check to Kennedy-King College at NACE Automechanika Chicago

CHICAGO – Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development, Collision Repair Education Foundation, presented a check of $22,500 to Kennedy-King College, one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago, today at NACE Automechanika Chicago.

Over the past six months leading up to NACE Automechanika Chicago, the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) has gathered support and donations from individuals and businesses that will be used to help Chicago collision school instructors ensure that their students receive the best technical education possible.

Eddie Phillips, Dean of Instruction for Kennedy-King College, added, “The Collision Repair Education Foundation has been extremely valuable to us as a partner. We’ve done a lot of overhaul with our curriculum to make sure it is reflective of what is happening in the industry so that we send well-trained individuals into the workforce.”

Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, expressed, “It’s great to have the coming together of the industry with places like City Colleges of Chicago so that we can truly create a pipeline of talent for our growing industry. I want to share my deep appreciation to Brandon for your years of service on the advisory council to help us be at a greater level of excellence for the preparation of our students. Thank you for this wonderful donation.”

Salgado also added that City Colleges of Chicago is beginning construction for another campus that will feature a facility that allows for more robust training for diesel mechanics and auto collision work to serve the needs of the industry.