The March Taylor Memorial Fund (MTMF) donated $5,000 to offset the costs of sending two USA participants - Scott Raymond for the Collision Division and Ben Janke for the Refinish Division - to the World Skills Competition in Calgary, Alberta, from Sept. 1-7.

Raymond was the gold medal winner in both the state (Massachusetts) and National Skills USA competitions in 2007 and will represent the USA in the autobody collision repair event. At the National Skills USA Competition in Kansas City, Scott achieved the highest score in collision repair technology in the history of the competition.

While his home state association, the Massachusetts Auto Body Association, has always paid for state winners airfare and hotel to Kansas City for the nationals, this time it is seeking assistance from the industry so that Scott and his family will be able to attend the World Skills in Calgary without the added burden of worrying about the costs.

"This is an extremely important event and we are pleased to be able to support two world class technicians in his endeavor to represent the USA Skills Team," says Barry Dorn, MTMF board member. "Scott Raymond not only won the USA World Skills Competition, he did so with record setting performances. March Taylor would be very proud of these two young men."

Janke was the gold medal winner in the refinish division, recently graduating from the Madison Area Technical College Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Technician program. He is currently working at Rock Lake Paint & Repair in Lake Mills, Wis., and continuing his education in the Automotive Technology division. After training in Maryland recently at the Center for Applied Technologies - North to further develop skills needed to compete at WorldSkills, Janke said he is excited to participate in the upcoming competition.

"One of my instructors took me for a ride in a great car, and from there I was hooked," says Janke in a recent interview. "I am drawn to the refinish side because anyone can bolt on parts, but it takes an artist to do a great paint job. To take a wrecked car and make it new again makes me feel good. I like custom and creative."

Tim Hoege, Janke's instructor for the competition, commented on his hard work and dedication to the auto industry, "It has been a pleasure to work with him. It is an honor to have someone attend WorldSkills from our school and to be able to go as well. You just don't think it could happen, and then it does."

Toby Chess, MTMF board member says, "I would encourage anyone and any entity associated with the collision repair industry to send contributions toward this effort. These gentlemen have earned the industry's support."