EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS
Makeover Grant Goes to
Pa. Vocational School

The I-CAR Education Foundation has named Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School in Jefferson Hills, Pa., as the winner of the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant. Selected from more than 30 school applications, the school’s collision program is strongly supported by Jim Fichera, Steel Center instructor, and John Sandrene, Steel Center director, as well as local industry members that serve on the school’s advisory committee and the local I-CAR committee.

“Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School fits the goal of the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Program perfectly. They have been doing an outstanding job in educating students in collision repair, have a strong relationship with their local collision repair shops and other businesses, and have been successful at placing graduates within their community. We believe strongly this grant to improve their program’s teaching materials and equipment will result in even greater success for their students and benefit the entire collision industry,” said Scott Kruger, says I-CAR executive director.

“Due to a state budget deficit, the state had to make budget cuts in career and technical education equipment funds. This grant will make it possible for our students to keep current with the technical changes in the field and be better prepared for entry-level employment and post-secondary training,” said Sandrene.

Part of the application required schools to identify how exactly they would use the $50,000 grant, and the I-CAR Education Foundation will be working together with the school to fulfill its needs. The foundation will also be working together with industry partners who will be providing in-kind product donations to the winning school as part of the grant.

The announcement was made during NACE at the I-CAR Education Foundation’s First Annual Donor Recognition Reception, where donors were brought together to see the valuable work that the foundation provides to career and technical schools and colleges. This grant opportunity, as well as the other scholarships and grants offered by the foundation, are funded by the Collision Repair Education Campaign, which is hosted by the I-CAR Education Foundation. The funds for the Collision Repair Education Campaign are provided through donations from all collision industry segments.