collision repair student

It’s A Time For…

December 12, 2008 by Butler--BCRN 1 Comment

The end of the year is here and it is time for many things. Let’s slow down, take a breath, and reflect on the great times we had this year

It’s A Time for Thanks

Collision Repair had a new semi-downdraft prep station installed.
Collision Repair now has AllData Collision Connect. This allows us to retrieve the correct repair procedures for vehicles. This increases the quality of repairs we do. It also contributes to a safer working environment by taking guess work out.
Collision Repair purchased a Red Devil Paint Shaker, which is a must for the high pearl colors of today.
Collision Repair received a lower line of PPG paint called Shopline. This will be used to perform test panels and practice spraying techniques. This will be a small savings on materials. However, we will continue to use PPG for live work. Thanks to Danny Hutchins at Car Color.
Upgraded our existing Shark computerized measuring system.
Collision Repair received outside training classes and tour of collision repair facilities. Thanks to Danny Hutchins at Car Color, Bob Rech at 3M, AutoCraft of Wichita, and Extreme Motorsports Collision Center of El Dorado.
Materials and Parts Donations. Thanks to Danny at Car Color and Scholfield Honda in Wichita.
For all of our soldiers willing to put their life on the line to keep us safe.
We all have different beliefs, but I’m personally thankful for a certain someone born about 2000 years ago.

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I’m sure there are things to be thankful for in other programs or businesses. I can barely keep up with the Collision Repair program, but I encourage you to comment on your thanks in our comments section.

A Time for Memorial

The Butler Collision Repair Team lost one of their own this year. Ted Powe, a former BCC Collision student will be on our minds and our hearts will be with his family this holiday season.
For soldiers who lost their lives, while defending our country.
The one that lost his life for us, so that we can have life.

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If you would like to add someone to remember this year, please add him or her to the comment section of this blog.

A Time for Champions

The Butler Grizzlies won National Championship two times back-to-back in football. This makes their 6^th NJCAA Championship victory. Read More
The Butler Livestock Judging Team took some National Championships this year. They have 23 national contest victories this decade. Read More.
Dr. Vietti, Butler’s president, was nationally recognized as the recipient of the 2008 Western Regional Chief Executive Officer award for the national Association of Community College Trustees. Read More
Dr. Ellis, Butler’s vice president, was recognition as a South Plains College Distinguished Alumni. Read More
Patrick Sampoll, Fernando Galindo, and Jose Valenzuela, BCC Collision Repair students, produced a auto collision welding video, which was in a major national collision repair magazine called Auto Body Collision News (ABRN) Read More
Jennifer Engelbrecht, a BCC Collision Repair student won a $2500.00 scholarship through the I-CAR Education Foundation, in conjunction with AkzoNobel Coatings, Inc. and the Most Influential Women of the Collision Repair Industry. This scholarship was announced at NACE 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. Read More
Jennifer was also interviewed by Scene Exchange about the collision industry. Read More
This blog and our videos were mentioned on Parts & People. Read More
Again, the people that put their lives on the line for us are Champions.

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This is where you all are really going to have to help me. I know that there a more Champions and Victories out there, but I’m in here swinging hammers beating on cars all day. I’m not leaving any champions out; I just don’t get out a lot. However, I would love to hear more Butler and/or other Success stories. Please share in our comments section.

A Time for Hope
Everyone completes each year hoping that the next year will be even better. Here are a few of the things I hope for in the future.

Better economy
More jobs
New football stadium for the Grizzlies
High enrollment

A Time for Giving

As we reflect though this year and look into next year, you have the opportunity to put hope in the lives of others. Community Colleges depend on the help of others to produce the champions of the future. There are many scholarships available for you to contribute to at our Foundation office. You can also give online to the Butler Foundation. If you feel compelled to donate to help future collision repair technicians, there is a scholarship set up in memory of Ted Powe. Read more about the Ted Powe Scholarship.

I WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON

Here is a video explaining our Butler Foundation office.

BCC Collision Repair students enter the work force.

May 13, 2008 by Butler--BCRN 2 Comments

The orange Ranger pick-up in the photo above belongs to collision repair student Brett Streeter. (left side) Brett and Scott Wheeler (right side) along with other students in the class repaired and repainted the pick-up this semester. This is one of several jobs they both worked on. As you can see, the pick-up looks awesome and Brett is ready to take it home to show his friends.

Brett lives in Derby, Kansas and commutes to the El Dorado campus to attend the Collision Repair Program at BCC. I asked Brett what he enjoyed most while attending Butler and he indicated he enjoyed learning how to paint. Brett plans to follow his passion by becoming a preper for the paint department at Cessna Aircraft. He eventually wants to become a painter that paints the airplanes for them. Brett graduates from the collision repair program May 17, 2008, and plans to pursue his career goals at that time.

Scott Wheeler lives in El Dorado, Kansas. Scott is another student that attends the Collision Repair Program. I also asked Scott what he liked the most about the program. He indicated that he liked learning how to perform the body work on cars. Scott is currently employed by John K Fishers, a Buick dealership, in El Dorado. Scott graduates May, 17, 2008. He plans to work for John K Fisher full time as a collision repair technician after he graduates.

These two students are well on their way to successful and rewarding careers. I wish the best for these students, as they deserve the best.

Other things going on around the collision repair program…

Many of the BCC students are wrapping up for the break. However, they’ll be back in August to complete the two year certificate or degree program that Butler offers.

Andrew is mixing primer. 2K or two component primers must be measured precisely to avoid problems. Improperly mixed primers or paints will result in a number of problems.

Jenni is setting up the Kansas Jack frame machine. Before a vehicle can have any structural repairs performed, the vehicle must be anchored to the frame machine. Then measurements can be made to determine the extent of the damage.

Devin is clear coating his hood panel. He repaired some damage the hood had and he is now in the process of applying the finial finish.

All projects are being completed before the summer break. The students are excited that they have completed their first year of the collision repair program. This takes commitment and hard work to achieve. Not every student that starts the program can say that they completed the program.

Be sure to check back with us. We’ll keep you updated with what is going on at the Collision Repair program at Butler Community College.

BCC Students Sneak Away to Visit the Industry

May 6, 2008 by Butler--BCRN Leave a Comment

BCC Collision Repair student, Austin Newman, took these photos while attending a field trip to BigDog Motorcycles.

It’s hard for me to believe this year is almost over. It feels like we are just getting things started and it’s time to take a break. However, my students worked hard and increased their skills tremendously, so they deserve the summer break. I’m already looking forward for them to return so we can start the advanced training that starts during their second year.

This year we learned a lot and had a lot of fun. First year students start off with safety, of course, then they learned how to weld, repair plastic, repair minor body damage, apply plastic body fillers, estimate, basic frame and uni-body concepts, and now they are learning about paint. The second year we will use these basic skills to learn the more advanced skills.

We did get to sneak away a few times. We were able to visit some of the collision repair shops. This is actually an excellent learning tool for the students to see what actually goes on in the work place and helps the students to start building relationships with potential employers. The business managers we selected to visit this year were wonderful with the students. It was awesome that they took the time to spend with the students and by giving us tours of their facilities. I would like to commend Rusty ECK Ford, Big Dog Motorcycles, and Carstar Collision Center for their support and help this year. We also visited Fox Collision; however, they are no longer in business.

One thing that all business managers mentioned was that they are looking for employees with good work ethics, dependability, and a good attitude. They believe they can help new employees improve their work skills, if they have those three things. However, it doesn’t matter how skilled someone is if they don’t show up to work.

Check back for more updates about our collision repair program. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or if you’d like to learn how to become a professional collision repair or refinish technician.

Donnie Smith
316-323-6890