March 6, 2023–Three students from the auto body program at Salem’s Career Technical Education Center in Salem, Oregon, have been awarded a national scholarship, according to the Salem Reporter.
Daniel Mendoza, Julian Moran, and Eddie Ceja are seniors in their second year of the program. They were awarded the scholarship as well as $1,000 worth of tools and a trip to attend the national Collision Industry Conference, where they were recognized on stage.
Alex Crays is their instructor and has said that the industry is in dire need of technicians. With 25 students in the advanced program and 52 in their first year, Crays said he receives “more job offers from shop owners who contact me than actual students who want to go into this industry.”
Crays has tried to show his students the entire process of collision repair, from the moment the keys are handed over to the moment they’re returned. Students spend the first year of the program learning about every part of the industry, “from customer service representative to estimator to painter.”
“Our teacher shows us how to communicate with the customer, how to talk to the customer–shake their hand, say their name,” said Mendoza.
“Professionalism is a really big deal at CTEC,” Crays remarked. “Professionalism isn’t taught anywhere.”
