The Collision Repair Education Foundation, in
conjunction with
AkzoNobel and The Most Influential Women of the
Collision Repair Industry, awarded eight young
women with scholarships to assist in their
education and advancement in the collision
industry.
The top scholarship winner in the Secondary
category is Rosalva Andrade, a student at
Dennis Technical Education center in Boise, ID.
Rosalva will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship
to continue her education and career in the
collision industry. In Rosalva’s essay for the
scholarship, she details why she is interested
in the collision industry. “Ever since I was a
little girl I have always dreamed of doing
something with cars, anything really at first .
. . Because I was a girl, I had to work twice
as hard to show that I really was in the class
for the right reasons but I never gave up. It
is hard being a girl in any man’s field because
some people think that girls can’t do the job;
I would like this opportunity to show other
girls that they can also do anything they
want.”
The top scholarship winner in the Post-
Secondary category is Jessica Gauthier, a
student at Green River Community College in
Auburn, WA. Jessica will also be awarded a
$5,000 scholarship to continue her education
and career in the collision industry. Jessica
demonstrated her love of the industry in her
essay for the scholarship award. “I was raised
in the collision repair industry. My dad was,
in my eyes, the greatest auto body technician
alive. I loved going to the shop and being his
helper, there was nothing like the smell of
bondo on a Saturday morning after breakfast…
Being able to prove myself as a woman in
educational setting of the industry and how I
was able to handle that situation will make it
easier as I return to the workforce after
graduation. Just because I am a female does not
mean that I can’t fix a damaged vehicle, and
that is what I will show the industry once
again. In my future I foresee my name becoming
a household name for Collision Repair.”
In addition to Rosalva and Jessica, six
runner-up scholarships were awarded to students
from career and technical schools and colleges
around the United States. All of the runner-up
recipients will receive a $2,500 scholarship to
continue their education. In the Secondary
category, the Education Foundation
congratulates: Carol Davis (Sevier County High
School - Sevierville, TN); Aleah Mims (Scarlet
Oaks Career Development Center - Cincinnati,
OH); and Nicolette Cole (Muscle Shoals Center
for Technology - Muscle Shoals, AL).
In the Post-Secondary category, the Education
Foundation congratulates: Jessica Crowley
(College of Western Idaho - Nampa, ID), Michele
Marie Geis (Lewis-Clark State College -
Lewiston, ID; and Ashley Paegel (South Central
College - North Mankato, MN).
Collision Repair Education Foundation Executive
Director Scott Kruger said, "This is the 9th
year that AkzoNobel has recognized and awarded
young women studying collision repair in their
schools and colleges. The Collision Repair
Education Foundation is proud to partner with
AkzoNobel on this scholarship opportunity and
would like to congratulate the winning
students. Through AkzoNobel's support, these
women will be able to further their education
and become the future leaders of the
industry."
“Sustainability is a strategic drive for
AkzoNobel,” noted Laura Costello Director of
Marketing for AkzoNobel Automotive & Aerospace
Coatings America. “People are a key component
of sustainability. Our efforts to support the
advancement of women in collision repair have
now moved into a second decade. We are pleased
that we have been able to sustain this activity
and are gratified to have touched the lives of
so many and in such a personal way.”
Established in 1999, The Most Influential Women
of the Collision Repair Industry program
annually recognizes the leadership
contributions that are made by a unique group
of individuals that have dedicated themselves
to the betterment of this industry and their
communities.
