In April 2024, four tool carts were awarded to Southwestern Community College (SWCC) auto collision repair/refinish students on behalf of the Merlin and Ann Magneson fund through the SWCC Education Foundation.
This year’s tool cart recipients included 2024 Associate of Applied Science in auto collision repair/refinish candidates Shelby Keller of Mount Ayr; Koby Namanny of Cumberland; Brandon Stull of Creston; and Alexander Winborn of Jewell.
According to Jeff Magneson, SWCC auto collision repair/refinish instructor and son of Merlin and Ann Magneson, he and his wife, Tammy, fund the tool carts as gifts to honor his parents’ memory.
“We thought the tool carts were a unique and practical graduation gift utilizing the SWCC Education Foundation,” Magneson stated. “My parents were so proud of the fact my sister and I went to SWCC and took that education into successful careers.”
Magneson’s sister, Trisha Magneson-Anderson, took business classes at SWCC and is currently a bank branch manager in Ames.
“Education was very important to my parents, especially my mother,” Magneson continued. “My dad had a passion for cars. Both possessed grit and a work ethic. They knew the value of community college.”
To qualify, the students must be on track to complete the two-year Associate of Applied Science degree at the end of the spring semester. The students are given their choice of tool cart color and assemble the carts themselves. In 2023, six tool carts were donated to graduating sophomores at SWCC.
Pictured above (L to R): SWCC auto collision repair/refinish candidates Shelby Keller, Koby Namanny, Alexander Winborn, and Brandon Stull.