Washtenaw Community College

Robin Baessler, a Fall 2006 recipient of the Collector's Foundation scholarship, is ambitiously pursuing an Associate's degree in Automotive Service, Automotive Body Refinishing, and Custom, Cars & Concepts. Once complete, he will transfer to a four-year university to finish a degree in engineering.

Robin grew up in Farmington Hills and has been commuting to WCC. He knew since high school that he wanted to work with cars in some way, and WCC's excellent reputation for outstanding automotive programs drew him here immediately. He is most interested in vehicle dynamics — that is, working out the bugs in cars that are in development.

Through experiences such as customizing a Ford 500 GTR and visiting the local Ford proving grounds, Robin's eyes have been opened to the fact that automotive engineering doesn't mean being stuck behind a desk. "It's an exciting field," he says. Because Robin's schedule is packed as he tries to finish all his programs in a timely manner, he doesn't have time to work. This has made receiving a scholarship especially helpful.