AkzoNobel announces the recognition of two outstanding students in its 2013-2014 Sustainability Challenge Grant program.
Tyler Huizenga, representing Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, Iowa, nominated by instructor Steven Youngs; and Evan Vail, representing Applied Technology Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina, nominated by instructor Mark Dellinger, are the recipients of this year’s Outstanding Student recognition. Huizenga and Vail were nominated by their instructors for exemplifying exceptional leadership, initiative and commitment to applying continuous improvement and sustainable business principles in their school’s collision repair shop and how it interacts with the surrounding community and its environment. They led teams of students at their respective schools in developing a grant proposal.
The Sustainability Challenge Grant outstanding student honor includes an opportunity to participate in a three-day study trip to the DCR Systems Accident Repair Center in Mentor, Ohio on July 29 – 31, 2014. DCR utilizes the Process Centered Environment (PCE) as the basis for its operations. PCE is a continuous improvement initiative developed by AkzoNobel to help its customers transform and sustain their businesses, allowing them to thrive and prosper in the marketplace.
“The Sustainability Challenge Grant aims to inspire and challenge those who are preparing for a career in collision repair to seek out ways to improve the way our industry works and interacts with its community and environment. These outstanding students represent the future of our industry and we are proud of their initiative to help find ways to improve processes and advance environmentally-friendly practices,” said Doug Holmberg, director of AkzoNobel A&AC Vehicle Refinishes North America.“We are proud of their accomplishments, and we are pleased to offer this hands-on learning experience with DCR Systems, a collision repair business that is helping to revolutionize the industry with its sustainable business practices.”
The Sustainability Challenge Grant aims to jumpstart awareness and innovation about sustainable business practices and continuous improvement among collision repair students and their instructors. The grant is sponsored by AkzoNobel and administered by the Collision Repair Education Foundation.
