There’s an old saying that a lot of folks in crisp, white-collar offices have forgotten: Work is not a four-letter word.
Every single day, millions of people get up, put on boots, and do the heavy lifting that keeps this country moving. They are the mechanics, the technicians, and the artisans of the skilled trades. But somewhere along the line, our culture started telling young people that the only path to a successful life involves a four-year degree, a mountain of student debt, and a lifetime under fluorescent office lights.
We think that’s dead wrong.
At DiminshedValueAttorneys.com, we spend our days dealing with the aftermath of car wrecks. We fight the insurance companies that try to lowball people out of their hard-earned vehicle equity. But we know a secret the insurance adjusters don’t: the math on an appraisal report doesn’t mean a thing without the skilled hands of an auto body technician.
When a vehicle is smashed, a computer algorithm doesn’t fix it. A team of executives doesn’t pull the frame back into alignment. It takes a real person with a real, hard-earned skill set to manipulate steel, match paint, and restore a piece of machinery back to factory spec. Auto body repair isn’t just a job – it’s an art form, a science, and a critical trade that deserves our respect.
That is why we are proud to establish The Diminished Value Attorneys Skilled Trades Scholarship.
The Award
We are offering a recurring $500.00 annual scholarship to be awarded annually, directly to one community college or technical school student currently enrolled in an accredited Auto Body, Collision Repair, or Automotive Technology program.
This money isn’t for fancy textbooks or university administrative fees. It’s for the stuff that actually matters: tools, safety gear, welding masks, or tuition support to help a future technician cross the finish line without being buried in debt.
Why We Are Doing It
The skilled trades are facing a massive shortage. The average age of an auto body technician is climbing every year, and we aren’t replacing them fast enough. We want to reward the individuals who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, who take pride in making things whole again, and who want to build a career they can look back on at the end of the day and actually see what they accomplished.
We want to support the next generation of craftsmen and craftswomen who will keep our roads safe and our cars running.
Eligibility & How to Apply
To qualify for the $500.00 award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be currently enrolled or accepted into a certificate or degree-seeking Auto Body Repair, Collision Technology, or related automotive trade program at an accredited community college or technical school.
- Must maintain a clean academic and safety record within their program.
To Apply:
Please submit a brief essay (500 words or less) or a short 2-minute video answering one simple question: “Why did you choose the auto body trade, and what does skilled craftsmanship mean to you?”
- Submission Deadline: October 1of each year.
How to Submit: Please email your application, along with proof of enrollment, to attorney Chris Johnston at cjohnston@jmlegal.com