Scholarships awarded to students

Azko Nobel hosted the Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry's dinner in Conjunction with NACE 2003 for its fifth year on Dec. 4. It honors women who stand out and who are making a difference in the industry. In keeping with the spirit of this award, Akzo Nobel partnered with the I-CAR Education Foundation to continue the tradition of helping to pave the way for the next generation of women in the collision repair industry. Akzo Nobel donated $10,000 in scholarship money, which will be earmarked for programs that empower women in the industry, to the I-CAR Education Foundation.

After a careful selection process, the I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with Akzo Nobel and "The Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry," announced that Tiffany Chadges, a senior at Lake County Technical High School in Grayslake, Ill., is being honored as this year's top scholarship winner.

Chadges said she was introduced to the industry by her father and enjoyed going to auto shows at a young age. "Knowing that I can make it in this world doing something I have shared my father's love for makes me want to pursue this career even more. Getting into the field of collision repair is only the beginning of what was once a childhood fantasy," Chadges said.

What is unique about this scholarship recipient is that she apprenticed under a past Most Influential Woman honoree, Jeanne Silver, owner of CARSTAR, in Mundelein, Ill. "Tiffany has the true passion and desire and will definitely do well," Silver said.

A total of 249 high schools that are ASE certified to the National Association of Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) standards in collision repair and refinishing received a letter and student application for this scholarship. Both the female student applicant and instructor were asked to write a short essay explaining why the student should be awarded the scholarship. A total of $10,000 was awarded by Akzo Nobel and was distributed between nine students