Scholarship Fund Partnership with Larsen Motorsports Supports Education for Students in Automotive-Related Fields
CLEVELAND – Nov. 6, 2023 – Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes and several well-known painters showed their support for young talent entering the collision repair industry by partnering with the Blazing Trails Scholarship Fund at the recent 2023 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Renowned painters donated more than 30 custom art panels for an art sale Sherwin-Williams held at its House of Kolor® booth during the SEMA Show. Panels featured intricate designs from some of the industry’s biggest names.
All proceeds from the art panel sales went to the Blazing Trails Scholarship Fund, which is managed by Larsen Motorsports (LMS) and Blazing Trails 501(c)3 in partnership with Sherwin-Williams. The fund recognizes deserving students enrolling in automotive-related fields at participating trade schools and community/technical colleges.
“The technical skills needed to complete collision repair services require a significant amount of training and understanding to properly make repairs and paint vehicles,” said Rob Mowson, Global Vice President of Marketing, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. “We’re helping talented students get that necessary education so they can help fill the shortage of trained painters in the field.”
Each year, the Blazing Trails Scholarship Fund selects a set number of qualified students to receive funding for one year of tuition at participating institutions. The amount awarded to each recipient is dependent upon the institution’s annual tuition fee.
“Blazing Trails has provided educational experiences for more than 100,000 students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM)-related fields via industry shows, facility tours and school visits,” said Elaine Larsen, Cofounder of LMS. “The scholarship fund is a direct continuation of that support, offering talented young people the opportunity to build their skills, grow professionally, and advance the automotive service and collision repair industry.”
Schools participating in the Blazing Trails Scholarship Fund receive various products from Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes. Products include refinish systems; custom paint; and a variety of collision repair products, such as body fillers, hardeners, abrasives, masking and more.
For more information, visit the Blazing Trails Scholarship Fund website at www.blazingtrails.info.
About the Automotive Finishes Division of Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams manufactures and distributes a complete line of advanced technology paint and coating systems for automotive, aerospace and fleet refinishing industries through its Automotive Finishes division, including a complete line of advanced technology paint and coating systems for a variety of commercial, general aviation and military aircraft. Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes is a part of the Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group, which supplies a broad range of highly engineered solutions in more than 120 countries around the world. Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. For more information about The Sherwin-Williams Company, visit www.sherwin-williams.com.