3M Automotive Aftermarket Division and the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) are proud to announce the 43 winners of this year’s 3M Hire Our Heroes awards. The winners include 35 students that are currently studying collision repair, and who have served or are currently serving in the military. Each winning student had the opportunity to select $3,000 worth of tools to help them in their education and for employment after graduation.
“Our nation’s military veterans deserve every opportunity to get a great start in our industry,” said Dale Ross, U.S. Marketing Operations Manager at 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. “We are happy to continue to give back to those who have served in our military through the 3M Hire our Heroes program, and wish them all great success in their future careers.”
3M Hire Our Heroes Grant Recipients:
Alabama
Kevin Thomas – Gadsden State Community College, Anniston, AL
Arkansas
David Crank – Pulaski Technical College, Little Rock, AR
Colorado
Robyn Wood – Aims Community College, Greeley, CO
Florida
Larry Boyce – Withlacoochee Technical College, Inverness, FL
James Roush – Lake Technical Institute, Eustis, FL
Georgia
Danny Lewis – Wiregrass Technical College, Valdosta, GA
Hawaii
Christopher Kelly – Hawaii Community College, Hilo, HI
Idaho
Martin Zurita – Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID
Illinois
Jorge Maya – Kennedy King College, Chicago, IL
Danny Taylor – Parkland Community College, Champaign, IL
Indiana
Gabriel Davis – Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN
Paul Hyde – Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, IN
Iowa
Joseph Gates – Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA
Derrick Palmer – Southeastern Community College, West Burlington, IA
Kansas
John Newman – Washburn Institute of Technology, Topeka, KS
James Wood – Manhattan Area Technical College, Manhattan, KS
Michigan
Jacob Truckey – Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, MI
Mississippi
Frank Wiginton – Itawamba Community College, Tupelo, MS
New York
Henry Bunk – Erie Community College, Orchard Park, NY
North Carolina
Ray Alston – Guilford Technical Community College, Jamestown, NC
Brad Gilliam – Blue Ridge Community College, Flat Rock, NC
Julian Rorie – Forsyth Technical Community College, Winston-Salem, NC
Ronald Woolett – Sandhills Community College, Pinehurst, NC
Oklahoma
Roland Greer – OSU Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK
Sean Holmgren – Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK
Cory Stead OSU – Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK
Thomas Thon – Great Plains Technology Center, Lawton, OK
Tennessee
Michael Brewer – Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Paris, TN
Jedidiah Long – Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville, TN
Allen Martin – Lincoln College of Technology, Nashville, TN
Texas
Clynt Holt – Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX
Philip McKee – Texas State Technical College, Bellmead, TX
Joseph Normandin – Texas State Technical College, Waco, TX
Joseph Shatterly – Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX
Wisconsin
Michael Cook – Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, Rice Lake, WI
In addition, eight collision students that have immediate family members that served or are serving in the military were selected as scholarship winners. Each student received a scholarship between $1,000-$2,500 to help with their education costs.
Scholarship Winners:
North Carolina
Amanda Prince – Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC
Oklahoma
Roland Greer – OSU Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK
Pennsylvania
Brianna Fleming – Indiana County Technology Center, Indiana, PA
Sean McCallister – Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Jamison, PA
South Carolina
Jospeh Cebreiros – Academy for Careers and Technology, Marion, SC
Andrew Moxley – Applied Technology Center, Rock Hill, SC
Texas
Joseph Shatterly – Universal Technical Institute, Houston, TX
Wisconsin
Caitlin Baier – Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI
This is the third year that 3M has partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation in support of the collision repair industry and our nation's veterans. Since 2013, 3M has donated $500,000 to be used towards scholarships and tool grants for military veterans and their family members.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation is looking to help connect these students with industry businesses who would be interested in meeting and potentially hiring them. Businesses interested in hiring one of the winning students should send their business information including location to the Collision Repair Education Foundation at [email protected] and the organization will help introduce both parties for potential employment opportunities.
Not only can veterans interested in a career in collision repair apply for the 3M Hire Our Heroes scholarships, they can learn their skills using the innovative 3M tools, materials and solutions donated to the program.
“The future of our industry starts with these students,” said Mark Algie, Business Development Manager, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division. Our job is to not only provide the leading-edge training they need to succeed, but to also make sure that the latest tools, repair materials, and standard operating procedures are available to them.”
The 3M Hire Our Heroes grants are available for qualifying returning veterans and family members. Grants may be used for tuition, school fees, tools, textbooks and equipment at qualifying technical schools. For additional information and to apply, visit www.
The ultimate goal of the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign is to support the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in raising awareness for hiring America’s heroes and help drive employment in the collision repair industry for these deserving veterans and their families. In addition, 3M is a national board member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes program.
For more information on the 3M Hire Our Heroes campaign, contact Ted Guck, 3M Automotive Aftermarket, at [email protected] or visit www.3mcollision.com/hire.
About the Collision Repair Education Foundation
The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to securing donations that support philanthropic and collision repair education activities that promote and enhance career opportunities in the industry. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation visit us on the Internet at: www.
About 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division
3M automotive products keep the world on the move, with innovative solutions for building, repairing and maintaining vehicles. From the collision repair professional to the individual vehicle enthusiast, people around the world trust 3M products to protect, repair and keep their vehicles looking showroom new. And our commitment to this industry extends beyond product performance to a careful stewardship of the world’s resources and environment. Serving the needs of our customers has made 3M a trusted leader in vehicle care and repair, and we are dedicated to earning that trust each and every day.
For more information, contact 1-877-MMM-CARS, contact your local 3M Distributor or 3M Sales Representative or visit the website at www.3Mcollision.com. Follow 3M AAD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/3MCollision and on twitter @3M_Collision and Instagram @3M_Collision.
About 3M
3M is a science-based company with a culture of creative collaboration that inspires powerful technologies, making life better. With $32 billion in sales, 3M employs 90,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNewsroom on Twitter.
