CARSTAR Launches $20,000 Scholarship Commitment

CARSTAR Launches $20,000 Scholarship Commitment

In collaboration with the Collision Repair Education Foundation, CARSTAR aims to help young and skilled technicians with their education.

CARSTAR, North America’s leading provider of premier collision repairs, has announced its commitment to award twenty $1,000 scholarships to eligible technical students.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that for job seekers, the outlook for qualified technicians is positive, as the need to fill an estimated 45,900 jobs become available from 2016-2026.^[1] Industry shortages persist amongst this positive job outlook and CARSTAR aims to remove potential financial barriers for current and future students interested in the field.

“We know affordability can be a barrier to education and by supporting 20 deserving students, CARSTAR is able to help lighten the load for these future technicians,” says Michael Macaluso, President, CARSTAR. “There is tremendous opportunity in our industry and I know our franchise partners are eager to have the support of new technicians who are comfortable navigating through advanced technologies that continue to enter the collision repair field.”

CARSTAR has collaborated with the Collision Repair Education Foundation to help connect with interested students in its markets across the United States. The Collision Repair Education Foundation is a national nonprofit aimed at supporting collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities.

“The Collision Repair Education Foundation is proud to partner with CARSTAR to offer this named scholarship opportunity for collision students in their markets,” says Brandon Eckenrode, Director of Development, Collision Repair Education Foundation. “While the technician shortage is a national issue the solution is at the local level with industry members like CARSTAR getting involved with their collision school programs, helping raise awareness of the incredible opportunities in this field.”

The CARSTAR student scholarship is available for high school seniors and/or post-secondary collision repair/auto body students that are within CARSTAR markets who have completed at least one semester of collision repair training prior to applying. Interested applicants should complete the application available at www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org.

[1] Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited November 27, 2018).