This Giving Tuesday Give Someone The Opportunity For A New Career Through The RV Technical Institute’s Kevin Phillips Scholarship

One of the biggest challenges our industry is facing is the lack of qualified techs to service our products. This has been identified through numerous customer surveys as well as discussions with RV Dealers, OEMs, and suppliers. In 2018, the RV Technical Institute was established to recruit, train, and place desperately needed skilled RV service technicians.

Kevin Phillips was one of the industry leaders and champions involved in establishing the RV Technical Institute. His passion for vocational training as an alternative to those pursuing college was instrumental in building consensus to create this program. So far this year, more than 5,000 technicians have been trained on the RV Technical Institute curriculum, significantly expanding the number of trained techs available to work on our products.

Tragically Kevin passed away in April of 2021 due to complications from COVID. In October of 2021, the RV Technical Institute Board of Directors established a scholarship fund in Kevin’s name to help students looking to pursue a career as an RV Service Technician. In just a few short months, donations were received in excess of $60,000 to initially fund this scholarship. The RV Technical Institute Board selected a scholarship review committee and has begun awarding scholarships to new applicants.

The cost for an individual to obtain training and certification through the RV Technical Institute is $300 annually which provides access to the Institute's entire menu of training options. For people just entering the work force or leaving the military, training costs are just another hurdle to overcome. Providing some assistance in the form of this scholarship not only helps the new technician, but will also recruit more RV technicians, a key resource that is severely lacking and threatens the ongoing success of our industry. Providing great service to our collective customers is critical to consumer satisfaction that we all rely on for our individual company’s success.

This industry has provided so much to all of us during the past few years. If you are inclined to donate to a charitable cause in 2022 either as an individual, a company or both, I encourage you to consider a contribution that will not only provide the industry with qualified technicians, but that will also sustain the vision that Kevin helped create. The RV Technical Institute is a 501c(3) entity so all donations qualify as a charitable tax deduction.

To make a contribution, please send a check to: RV Technical Institute, 3333 Middlebury Street, Elkhart, IN 46516. Checks should be made out to RV Technical Institute and list “Kevin Phillips Scholarship” in the note section.