Through the Collision Repair Education Foundation and “Hire Our Heroes” program, 3M is funding special scholarship opportunities for returning veterans who served after 9/11/01 that want to begin a collision repair career by attending a collision repair community college or college. The scholarship awards will pay for tuition and required books/tools for veterans enrolling in collision repair programs in the summer/fall 2013, therefore easing the financial burden of education.
Interested veterans can apply for the scholarship opportunities by visiting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s web site: www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org, under “Students” and “Hire Our Heroes.” The deadline for the application is May 31, 2013. As part of the application, a veteran would submit information for the collision school he/she would like to attend and if a veteran is not aware of what schools offer collision training, he/she can contact the foundation directly for a list of available schools.
Clark Plucinski, executive director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation, noted “The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud to partner with 3M and the Hire Our Heroes program, as there is no greater cause then helping the veterans who protect our country. This is a great program to give returning veterans a second chance through a very rewarding and satisfying career. The opportunities in the collision industry are endless and we look forward to helping these veterans to succeed in school and get the training they need to be productive employees.”
“The collision repair industry needs good technicians, and our military veterans have the qualities that make for great employees,” said Dale Ross, 3M Automotive Aftermarket Division U.S. marketing operations manager. “It is our hope that through the Collision Repair Education Foundation, together we provide the opportunity for deserving veterans to receive training, and ultimately find rewarding careers in collision repair. It's a great industry!”
The winners of the scholarship will be selected by members of the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s Board of Trustees Selection Committee and notified by mail and phone in July 2013. For more information, contact Director of Grant Programs Melissa Marscin at [email protected] or 888.722.3787, Ext. 282.
