Hoffman Estates, Ill. (January 2026) –
The collision repair industry boasts great career opportunities for young professionals eager to enter the field, but with advancing technology makes the trade increasingly complex, obtaining an education before entering the workforce is more vital than ever before. While the cost of attending technical school is typically less than other alternatives, tuition and fees average $15,000 and can even cost upwards of $20,000! This financial burden can create barriers for young people interested in pursuing a collision repair education, but the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF) seeks to lighten that load through the continuation and expansion of its Student Scholarship program!
“The Foundation is passionate about supporting the next generation of collision repairers, and we are proud that CREF’s Student Scholarships have empowered thousands of students to pursue collision educations, distributing over $3 million since 2010,” says Melissa Marscin, Director of Operations and Impact for the Foundation. “Being able to learn the skills needed to enter the collision workforce without accruing debt has made a huge impact for these young professionals over the years, contributing to their successful careers while simultaneously strengthening the industry itself by providing a properly trained and well-equipped pipeline of entry-level employees. The Foundation is particularly thankful for the industry supporters who have made this possible by continuing to step up and donate to fund these annual scholarships and tool grants.”
In 2025, CREF awarded over $275,000 in tuition assistance and tools to a substantial number of students – 163 future collision industry professionals benefitted from the industry’s generosity through this year’s program.
“This scholarship will help me afford the tools and training I need to stay focused and keep advancing in my collision repair career,” shared 2025 Student Scholarship recipient Jeret Ankrum (Southeast Technical College; Sioux Falls, SD).
“This scholarship will help me go into my career in the collision field with very little in student loans,” agreed 2025 CREF Student Scholarship recipient Alexandra Snodgrass (Lincoln College of Technology; Nashville, TN). “This means a lot to me because it means I can use my earnings on tools to help further my career. I am very thankful for this award.”
CREF’s 2025 Student Scholarship recipients also revealed a shift in demographics and growth in diversity. Over 70% of the students receiving a scholarship last year were women and other minorities, demonstrating the industry’s forward movement toward a more diverse workforce. More than 42% of these students identify as female, while nearly half (46%) of the recipients self-reported a race other than Caucasian. Just over a quarter of the students who received support in 2025 listed their race as Hispanic or Latino. CREF is excited to see how this shift demonstrates a growing interest in this field among young women and other underserved populations, who bring new perspectives that promise to strengthen the industry.
“The funds from this scholarship have impacted my education by giving me the opportunity to focus on school and not worry about the financial aspect of education as much,” Addison Zick (Pennsylvania College of Technology; Williamsport, PA) acknowledged. “It means a lot to me that I was selected as this is a field that I have been interested in for a while and now I can learn about it with less of a burden looming overhead. Instead, I can solely focus on doing my best to learn and grow.”
The scholarships also send a message that goes beyond the dollars and cents of the financial support; they clearly demonstrate the industry’s desire to support and encourage this next generation of collision repairers. “Not only did the scholarship help cover the costs of tools and training I need to keep advancing in the collision repair field, but it also gives me a sense of support,” observed 2025 CREF Student Scholarship recipient Angel Nungaray (Lincoln College of Technology; Denver, CO). “Knowing that CREF supports students like me reminds me why I chose this path…I want to be part of an industry that builds people up and gives back!”
While CREF’s ability to support so many students in 2025 directly correlated to the growing amount of industry engagement as more organizations recognized the value of investing in the future generation, it also resulted from CREF’s ongoing efforts to engage schools, instructors and students, raising awareness of this opportunity. Thanks to its work to alter the public’s perception of the industry and its activities to interact with the next generation, the Foundation saw a 46% increase in 2025 Student Scholarship applications compared to the previous year, and CREF hopes that the number of applications will continue to increase as more future collision professionals become aware of these available funds.
Applications for CREF’s 2026 Student Scholarships open on January 8 with a deadline of March 6, 2026. Funding is available for high school and college collision students to support their educational endeavors and help supply the employee pipeline for collision repair facilities around the country. Apply for a 2026 Student Scholarship online at bit.ly/2026CREFstudentapp or learn more at bit.ly/CREFstudents.
Industry members interested in getting involved and supporting the Collision Repair Education Foundation’s efforts to assist high school and college collision repair training programs can Contact Us to learn about the many ways to get involved. Monetary donations can be made online.
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The Collision Repair Education Foundation, founded in 1991, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting collision repair educational programs, schools and students to create qualified, entry-level employees and connect them with an array of career opportunities. For information on how to donate to programs supported by the Education Foundation, visit us online at: www.CollisionRepairEducationFoundation.org.
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If you would like more information about this topic or any of CREF’s initiatives, please email info@ed-foundation.org.