KC Collision students’ spend day at the Speedway

Kishwaukee College students in the Collision Repair Technology (CRT)Program visited the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet for the Cars, Careers, and Celebrities Expo. The students networked with CRT professionals and enjoyed access to the cars and races. Pictured in the Victory Lane are, L to R: Alex Romanelli, Chicago; Adam Morgan, Sycamore; Jake Petersen, Genoa; David Belmonte, Rochelle; Jalen Lingren, DeKalb; and Gary Fischer, Belvidere.

Kishwaukee College students in the Collision Repair Technology (CRT) Program took a unique field trip in late September to the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. The event was dubbed Cars, Careers, and Celebrities Expo by host Collision Repair Education Foundation and was a combination of the excitement of being at the track with a venue for CRT students from across the Midwest to network with big name CRT partners as well as with national collision franchises with internship and employment opportunities. Greg Brink, CRT faculty at Kishwaukee College, stated, “This event was exclusive to CRT students and they were excited to be there. But the employers were excited, too, to see so many young people interested in CRT as a career.”

Participating employers included several big name MSOs – Multi-Shop Organizations – including Abra, Gerber Collision, and Service King. Students were encouraged to bring their references and resume information with them and mock interviews were available for students to practice job interview techniques prior to speaking with employers. While at the Speedway, the Kishwaukee students also enjoyed the privilege of being near trackside and the pits. The group got up close with some of the elite race cars including Team Penske and driver #22 Joey Logano.

Brink added, “This was a great chance for the students to have a one-of-a-kind experience and to see the employment and long range earning potential opportunities for professionals in CRT. This is a great program through the Collision Repair Education Foundation to bring employers and students together in a way that is really meaningful for networking.”

For more information on Collision Repair Technology at Kishwaukee College, contact Greg Brink at 815-825-2086, ext. 3280 or at gregory.brink@kishwaukeecollege.edu. Registration for Spring 2016 is currently in progress. For information on enrollment for Spring 2016, contact Bryce Law at ext. 2351 or at welcome@kishwaukeecollege.edu; for information on Registration, contact the Admissions, Registration and Records Office at ext. 2740 or at arr@kishwaukeecollege.edu.