The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) announced a record 30 recipients of its 2024 WIN College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Awards, which gave select recipients tool kits and/or scholarship funds.
This year also saw a record number of student applications, as WIN partnered with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to expand its reach to those looking for a career in collision repair. These scholarships are presented annually to deserving students enrolled in post-secondary collision repair technology programs.
As part of the application process, each WIN Scholarship applicant registered for and received a complimentary WIN Student Membership. WIN also supports collision repair instructors with access to free WIN memberships through the Pay It Forward campaign.
The program, which was expanded this year, offers awards on two financial levels, ranging from $500 up to $2,500, based on the selection team’s evaluation of an application and the candidate's review process, explained Laura Kottschade, 2024 chair of the WIN Student Relations Committee. Recipients can also receive well-stocked new tool kits, valued at more than $500, which included four additional tools per set this year.
“Those scholarship recipients receiving tuition monies and tools were acknowledged in either the Champions or Stars levels," Kottschade said. "But, because we had so many applicants, two new scholarship categories, Trailblazers and Legends, were added this year where additional recipients were awarded either a financial stipend or a full tool kit.”
All award recipients and applicants will be eligible to partake in WIN’s monthly mentoring program, where they participate in student engagement group calls and share best practices with collision industry professionals as well as their peers.
“WIN student members will connect with other members who are in a similar stage in their careers. The mentoring program also provides connection with women in the industry who can share relevant experiences from their success,” said Kottschade. “These networking groups will support new female entrants to the collision repair field and hopefully create lifetime friendships that further WIN goals for longer term career advancement and retention.”
Funds to support the scholarship program come from various sponsors and WIN’s general fund, as well as the recent scholarship walk at its Annual Conference.
“This year we have separated the Scholarship Walk and the Scholarship Fundraiser to simplify it for participant involvement, but there is still the opportunity to donate to the scholarship cause,” said April Keim and Christina Sepulveda, WIN Scholarship Fundraising co-chairs. “Fundraising is still open through May 31, as we have partnered with RallyUp and created the WIN Scholarship Fundraiser which allows those inspired to support our future women technicians of collision repair to still contribute to this important cause.”
WIN 2024 Scholarship Award Winners
Champions Recipients
- Teisha Chambers, Miami Gardens, FL, McFatter Technical College
Alicia Davis, Clarksville, TN, Lincoln College of Technology-Nashville
Tamara Fowlkes, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga State Community Technical College
Autumn Havey, Boise, ID, Dennis Technical Education Center
Desirae Kane, Lawton, OK, Great Plains Technology Center
Izzy Povod, Williamsport, PA, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Alexa Rogers, Bruceton, TN, Tcat Henry Carroll
Lauren Schmidt, Kennett Square, PA, Automotive Training Center
Mia Seacrist, Norfolk, NE, Northeast Community College
Krystal Vazquez, McKinney, TX, Colllin College technical campus
Stars Recipients
- Charlotte Lake, Spring, TX, Universal Technical Institute
Claudia Mandujano, Pelham, AL, Lincoln Tech
Trailblazers Recipients
- Jamie Achenbaugh, Council Bluffs, IA, Metropolitan Community College
Victoria Alexander, Rexburg, ID, Idaho State University
Esperanza Calderon, Marissa, IL, Career Center of Southern Illinois
Mikayla Hoth, Brooklyn Park, MN, Dunwoody College of Technology
Bobbi Lockett, Chattanooga, TN, Chattanooga State Community College
Magaly Mora, Chicago, IL, Kennedy Kin College
Keyla Orellana, Houston, TX, Universal Technical Institute
Briana Onofre, Minneapolis, MN, Dunwoody College of Technology
Cher Riopelle, The Woodlands, TX, Universal Technical Institute
Samantha Rivera, Highland Mills, NY, Hudson Valley Community College
Legends Recipients
- Amanda Baker, Wake Forest, NC, Wake Tech Community College
Carolyn DesJardin, Clarksville, TN, Tennessee College of Applied Technology–Henry/Carroll
Mattie Johnson, Bagley, WI, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
Bailey Longstaff, Ottawa, KS, Washburn Tech University
Jazmyne Martinez, Denver, CO, Warren Tech
Diamond Molina, San Antonio, FL, Hillsborough Community College
Kyla Sanders, Borden IN, Prosser Career and Education Center
Madysen Smith, Dauphin, PA, Dauphin County Technical School
To learn more about the WIN scholarship program, visit thewomensindustrynetwork.site-ym.com/page/Scholarship.
For more information on WIN, visit thewomensindustrynetwork.com.
