Widescale Wins: A record 30 students receive WIN 2024 Annual Scholarship Program Awards

Toronto, Ontario — The Women’s Industry Network (WIN) recently announced a record 30 new recipients of its 2024 WIN College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Awards.

The WIN College Student Tuition and Conference Scholarship Awards represent opportunities for select recipients to receive extensive tool kits as well as scholarship funds. The annual scholarships are specifically presented to deserving students enrolled in post-secondary collision repair technology programs.

According to a recent press release, 2024 also saw a record number of student applications with WIN partnering with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) to expand its reach to those looking for a career in collision repair.

Additionally, according to Laura Kottschade, 2024 chair of the WIN Student Relations Committee, “the once again expanded program offers the College Student Tuition and Scholarship Awards on two financial levels, ranging from $500 up to $2,500 based on the selection team’s evaluation of (an) application and the review process. Recipients can also receive well-stocked new tool kits, which include four additional tools per set, and are valued at more than $500.”

“Those scholarship recipients receiving tuition monies and tools were acknowledged in either the Champions or Star levels. 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.”

The press release further noted that all award recipients and applicants will also be eligible to partake in WIN’s monthly mentoring program, where they can 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 connections 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.”

The press release concluded that the funds to support the scholarship program come from various sponsors and WIN’s general fund, as well as its 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, 2024 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:

CHAMPION Recipient, Hometown, Institution Name

• Teisha Chambers, Miami Gardens, Fla. (McFatter Technical College)

• Alicia Davis, Clarksville, Tenn. (Lincoln College of Technology – Nashville)

• Tamara Fowlkes, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Chattanooga State Community Technical College)

• Autumn Havey, Boise, Idaho (Dennis Technical Education Center)

• Desirae Kane, Lawton, Okla. (Great Plains Technology Center)

• Izzy Povod, Williamsport, Penn. (Pennsylvania College of Technology)

• Alexa Rogers, Bruceton, Tenn. (Tcat Henry Carroll)

• Lauren Schmidt, Kennett Square, Penn. (Automotive Training Center)

• Mia Seacrist, Norfolk, Neb. (Northeast Community College)

• Krystal Vazquez, McKinney, Texas. (Colllin College technical campus)

STARS Recipient, Hometown, Institution Name

• Charlotte Lake, Spring, Texas (Universal Technical Institute)

• Claudia Mandujano, Pelham, Ala. (Lincoln Tech)

Trailblazers Recipient, Hometown, Institution Name

• Jamie Achenbaugh, Council Bluffs, Iowa (Metropolitan Community College)

• Victoria Alexander, Rexburg, Idaho (Idaho State University)

• Esperanza Calderon, Marissa, Ill. (Career Center of Southern Illinois)

• Mikayla Hoth, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (Dunwoody College of Technology)

• Bobbi Lockett, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Chattanooga State Community College)

• Magaly Mora, Chicago, Ill. (Kennedy Kin College)

• Keyla Orellana Houston, Texas (Universal Technical Institute)

• Briana Onofre, Minneapolis, Minn. (Dunwoody College of Technology)

• Cher Riopelle, The Woodlands, Texas (Universal Technical Institute)

• Samantha Rivera, Highland Mills, N.Y. (Hudson Valley Community College)

LEGENDS Recipient, Hometown, Institution Name

• Amanda Baker, Wake Forest, N.C. (Wake Tech Community College

• Carolyn DesJardin, Clarksville, Tenn. (Tennessee College of Applied Technology – Henry/Carroll)

• Mattie Johnson, Bagley, Wisc. (Southwest Wisconsin Technical College)

• Bailey Longstaff, Ottawa, Kans. (Washburn Tech University)

• Jazmyne Martinez, Denver, Colo. (Warren Tech)

• Diamond Molina, San Antonio, Fla. (Hillsborough Community College)

• Kyla Sanders, Borden Ind. (Prosser Career and Education Center)

• Madysen Smith, Dauphin, Penn. (Dauphin County Technical School)