For the third year in a row, the Women’s Industry Network (WIN) awarded scholarships to attend NACE to the two top-scoring female winners of SkillsUSA.

This year’s recipients are Kalya Toncik, who was the first female gold medal winner in automotive refinishing technology in the history of SkillsUSA, and Jennifer Nix, the highest placing female in collision repair technology, coming in fifth place.

The WIN scholarship includes airfare, lodging and associated expenses, as well as a full access NACE Expo Pass provided by the Automotive Management Institute (AMI). Additionally, the two winners will be honored at the NACE sponsored industry awards luncheon on November 5, 2009. Both women also will receive a 2010 WIN membership.

Nix attends Greenville Tech in Columbia, S.C., where she is studying diesel mechanical systems. She hopes to become a collision repair business owner one day. Toncik attends Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., where she is studying business administration.

“These scholarships represent a continuing effort, as part of the WIN mission to support and encourage women who are entering the industry, particularly those in the technical ranks,” says Kim White, district sales manager for FinishMaster, who also serves as WIN’s chair.

WIN is accepting corporate sponsors to assist the organization in realizing its goals. To find out how you can become involved and support WIN or for information on becoming a member of WIN, contact Jeanne Silver at Jeanne@carstarmundelein.com or Kathy Mello at Kathy@tgifauto.com.