SCRS’s new welding and refinishing contest at SEMA Show to benefit trade schools

Students, instructors, and collision repair professionals have a chance to compete for the title of “Best Refinisher” and “Best Welder” on Skillveri virtual reality simulators and win up to $25,000 in prizes for their trade school of choice at the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) booth at this year’s SEMA Show. 

Six finalists will receive a Full Series Pass to the 2026 SEMA Show. Competitors will also win the chance to direct prize packages donated by Skillveri, Southern California Collision Equipment (SCCE), and Milwaukee Tool to a collision repair school program of their choice. 

“This is more than a competition — it’s a way for our industry to give back,” said Aaron Schulenburg, SCRS Executive Director, in a press release. “We’re using the platform of the SEMA Show to showcase technical skillsets, inspire new interest in the collision repair trade, and most importantly, support the schools and students that represent the future of this industry. Every one of these companies really embraced this idea and invested a lot of energy into making the contest special, and the packages very meaningful to the schools. We want to thank Milwaukee Tool, SCCE, and Skillveri for their generosity and the opportunity to support schools, students, and instructors.”

Each finalist will get to designate a collision repair school program to receive the following prizes: 

• • First Place (Welding & Refinishing): Lifetime Skillveri VR/MR license with full hardware kit, valued at $25,000.
  • Second Place (Welding & Refinishing): one-year Skillveri license with hardware kit ($5,500 value) plus a Fronius Fortis 270 C MIG/MAG welding machine, valued at about $6,000 and provided by SCCE.
  • Third Place (Welding & Refinishing): Skillveri Fundamentals license ($3,500 value) plus a premium Milwaukee Tool kit valued at about $6,000.

SEMA attendees are invited to visit the SCRS Booth, #31147 in the Upper South Hall, to participate in the virtual reality competition. 

The competition will be held Nov. 4 to Nov. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Skillveri will oversee competitor scoring. 

Winners will be announced at 11:30 a.m. PST on Nov. 7 live on SCRS’s Facebook. Those who want to compete can register in advance for the event here. 

“Associations are encouraged to make sure their regions are well-represented in this nationwide opportunity to bring home the title, and the equipment for your regional education programs,” the release says. 

For more information about the contest, such as sponsors, prizes, eligibility, winner notification, and rules, visit scrs.com/semeshocontest or visit the SCRS booth during the SEMA Show.

Images

Feature photo: screenshot from SCRS contest marketing video.