August 27, 2019 // Franchising.com // CHARLOTTE - CARSTAR, North America’s premier network of independently owned collision repair facilities, is supporting the next generation of collision repair professionals with a national scholarship program in conjunction with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF).
In 2019, CARSTAR held a scholarship program to award 20 deserving post-secondary collision repair students with $1,000 scholarships to help support their education. Some 192 students applied for the scholarships, with recipients selected because on their commitment to the industry, grades and impact the scholarship could make in their lives.
“At CARSTAR, we are committed to providing high-quality collision repair and a premier customer experience,” said Michael Macaluso, president of CARSTAR. “As industry experts and thought leaders, CARSTAR is facing the future head on - ensuring we are developing innovative training on the latest technologies. In partnership with Collision Repair Education Foundation, we are committed to helping future technicians find a great career.”
CARSTAR plans to continue the CREF partnership in 2020, with details announced at the upcoming 2019 SEMA Show, where CARSTAR is exhibiting at the Westgate Hall, Booth No. 16320.
The scholarships support students starting their careers in the collision repair industry. It also helps CARSTAR franchise partners connect with the awarded students, creating apprenticeship and career opportunities at CARSTAR franchise locations as soon as they graduate. Two students are already employed at CARSTAR locations.
The CARSTAR and CREF scholarship recipients included:
CARSTAR provided banners to the schools who had winning students to welcome them back for the fall semester. It also is supporting the CREF program to refinish collision repair schools’ floors and providing floor banners to three facilities.
For more information on CARSTAR, visit CARSTAR.com.
CARSTAR is North America’s largest network of independently owned and operated collision repair facilities with more than 650 locations in 35 states and 10 Canadian provinces. A part of the Driven Brands family of automotive aftermarket franchise brands, CARSTAR delivers national scale, premier vehicle repairs, repeatable outcomes and the industry’s highest customer satisfaction ratings. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, CARSTAR has maintained its commitment to give back to the communities it serves through a variety of fundraising initiatives, including raising over $3 million for Cystic Fibrosis Canada, and has made fighting cystic fibrosis its cause, North American wide. For more information visit www.carstar.com and www.carstar.ca.
Deborah Robinson
President
Victory Management Group PR
312.505.4336
drobinson@vmg1.com
SOURCE CARSTAR
CARSTAR is a Network of independently owned collision repair facilities.