CollisionBlast.com – Virtual DIY University provides training resources for auto body and paint and other automotive related how-to’s. If you are looking for a career in collision repair you can visit CollisionBlast.com
Another School Year Is History…Now Looking Forward

Can you believe it….another school year coming to a end. I guess my parents were right, the older you get the faster time goes. Although, staying busy makes time go by fast too and we have been extremely busy in the collision repair program. In fact, it is almost to the point that I wish we had more time to complete all of the class projects, but I must admit, it is going to be nice to catch a breath and relax during the summer break.
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Instructors Need Breaks Too!
I also commend all of the instructors for caring and pushing students to do their best. I can see the passion that other instructors have to help students achieve success and that is what motivates me to do my best. We all know it’s not the money that drive instructors, it’s the purpose and drive to help others. I know that it can be discouraging when our time appears to be wasted with students that will not accept the skills, work ethics, and drive that we try to transfer to them. I know that education supports, “everyone can learn” theory and I agree, except one small detail they don’t mention….if they want to! They have to want it! You must also keep in mind the “you can lead a mule to water,but you can’t make him drink” theory too. So try your best to reach all students and help them achieve their goals, but don’t let the few students that only apply minimal effort to skate by get to you. Focus on the students that you have made a positive impact. We’re just a small part of their life journey, but the decision they make later in life may be influenced by you. And who knows, some of the students that left unchanged; perhaps the light will click on in their head and your words and actions will repeat in their mind to help make a difference in their life as well. So keep up the stellar work and let’s get ready for the much deserved summer break.
Getting Enrolled
Are you interested in a collision repair career? If you are, don’t procrastinate, as you may be putting life on hold another year if you don’t act now. The enrollment at my college is open and the program is filling fast. We only accept 15 students per year. So if you are interested, you better check with the college or technical school that you plan on attending and ask if their enrollment is open and how to get enrolled. Many of these programs will be completely full before school is out this year. Just a heads up, do it now or you may be planning what else that you can do for the next year.
Apply for the chance for your school to receive $50,000 in 2011!!
Ultimate Collision Education Makeover Grant
Apply for the chance for your school to receive $50,000 in 2011!!
You can “Fuel the Future” of the industry by applying for the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant through the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
The Collision Repair Education Foundation’s 2011 Ultimate Collision Education Makeover $50,000 school grant application is now available for secondary and post-secondary collision programs. The application is available to download from the Education Foundation’s web site at www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org, and must be postmarked by August 31, 2011. The winning school will be announced during SEMA 2011. Instructors are advised to begin the application early due to the required application information.
The Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant debuted in 2009 when Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School (Jefferson Hills, PA) was chosen as the recipient of the award. In addition to Steel Center AVTS receiving $80,000 from the award, the schools that applied for the 2009 grant still benefited from the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover program. In total, the 35 schools each received an average of $5,000 in products, supplies, and equipment for a total value over $175,000. Every school that applied for the grant received at least one item to benefit their students and collision program.
In 2010, the award went to Bridgerland Applied Technology College (Logan, UT). The 2010 applicants have already had the opportunity to receive items from Airgas, Fibre-Glass Evercoat, Sherwin-Williams, UltraWiz, as well as Cintas technician shirts. With the generous support from the industry, the Education Foundation is looking to at least double the total support from 2009 to 2010 for schools that applied for the grant.
The application is available in PDF format to download at our new web site, www.CollisionEducationFoundation.org. The application must be printed from the web site and faxed/mailed back to the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
The postmark deadline to apply for the Ultimate Collision Education Makeover grant is August 31, 2011.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions:
Melissa Marscin
Assistant Director of Grant Programs
Collision Repair Education Foundation
Phone 888.722.3787, Ext. 282
Fax 847.590.1215
melissa.marscin@ed-foundation.org
Pay It Forward…That’s What It’s All About…Let’s Hook Em’ Up!!
You know, it seems like every time I turn the news on I see negative things. We’re facing budget issues, job losses, which leads to higher crime rates, political issues, etc. It goes no and on. I think if we would spend less time thinking about ourselves and more time looking for ways to help others, we’d live in a much better place.
With that said, we have a collision repair technology program that has reached out and is helping someone less fortunate out. A 15 year old boy was burnt in a fire trying to save other family members. During this fire, his car was damaged. This is where it gets cool, a student at the collision repair program decided to pay it forward by restoring the car that was damaged during the fire. Get this, they don’t even know the kid that was burned.
I love the TV show Overhaulin’, but this is the real deal man. No fame, no money, just wanting to help someone out. They mention needing a little funding to give the car a few extras…..let’s hook them up. Let’s help these guys make it happen. READ FULL STORY
I tried to set up a PayPal donation fund, but I could not get it working correctly. However, I encourage you to contact the instructor directly. Be sure to let me know what you donated so I can include it on the website an keep up with the story .
Putnam County Career and Technical Center
- 300 Roosevelt Blvd.
- Eleanor, WV 25070
- Rayburn, Terry
- Collision Repair
- trayburn@access.k12.wv.us
- (304) 586-3494 Ext. 216
Auto Body and Paint Program Offers Career Pathway For A Homeless Person….So What Are You Waiting On?
I just read an article that I believe is worth writing about. I will provide the link to the full article at the end of the post. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read it. I am going to high light a few points of the article.
It is about a young boy with a rough childhood. His mother was on drugs, moving from home to home and even lived in a car for a period of time. Later the young child and his younger brother were taken from the mother and placed in foster care. Being a violent child, he was sent from foster home to foster home. The story goes into detail of how he ended up homeless on the streets. However, I am going to jump to the point that I would like to make.
Never Give Up
This young man is now doing something that he thought he’d never do. That is going to college. He is enrolled in a auto body and paint program. He mentions that the thought of going to college. In fact, the thought of it was not even attractive to him at first with all of the responsibility and having to get up early. However, he has adapted well and really likes working on cars. The story is not over yet. This is not a big success story, as he still has a long journey in front of him. As many of us know, even being successful with a decent job can be a struggle at times. Dealing with employees, customers, and all of the day to day complications that come with life. The more things a person have (house, car, toys, job, family, etc.) the more stress the are going to have. Life itself can be a challenge sometimes. I am not to be depressing, but to make a point that you should never give up. Give that extra effort to be in class on time, make that “A”, to get the job you want, and to do your best, even on days when you don’t feel like it. That is what is going to achieve the true success you desire in your career.
Make It Happen
So where are you heading. Have you completed high school? If you have, are you sitting around waiting for things to happen or fall into place? Well, chances are that it’s not going to happen. You may still be waiting in a year, five years, or even ten years with the exact same circumstance that you are today. I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad or upset, but if you want something, go get it. No one is going to do it for you. You have to be the one to make it happen. You may get help and support along the way, but you have to make the final decision to pursue a successful career.
What Career Pathway Should I Choose?
I teach and promote auto collision repair. However, I do not encourage this career pathway if you are not interested in it. There are too many careers out there to settle for one that is not a fit for you. My advice is to think about what your interests and passions and find a career to fit it. If you don’t know where t start go to your local college and speak to an advisor. Ask them for resources to help you select a career pathway. There are even test that you can take that will help guide you in the right direction. Finding a career is easy, it’s making the decision to make it happen that is hard.
Regardless of past or present things going on in your life (like Mike in the story), you have the ability to change and improve it. Be sure to read the Full Story About Mike
It’s a new year and new school semester is about to begin. Do you want a new start…..go get it!
If you have any question about a career in collision repair, feel free to comment or ask on tis post. I will do my best to help answer your questions.