Reverend Elie Collier Memorial Scholarship

Upon returning in 1946 from service in World War II, brothers Elie and Raymond Collier had dreams of starting their own business in St. Louis. Despite facing racial and financial barriers, they built a thriving auto body business in their community, hiring and training men from the neighborhood. Generations later, Collier Autobody has been open in the same location for over seventy-five years and is managed by Elie’s son and Ray’s grandson.

In addition to founding the autobody business, Reverend Elie Collier also went on to establish Ecclesia of Christ Cosmopolitan, a church committed to serving its community in tangible ways such as education, employment, and basic needs. As the church celebrates over fifty-years in the community, the church honors his memory by making a commitment to supporting people through the trades.

The Reverend Elie Collier Memorial Scholarship will provide assistance to students who may feel that postsecondary education is “so far out of reach that they can’t even dream it.” With the goal of providing self-sufficiency and supporting community members without access to business and educational opportunities, this scholarship may be used for both vocational training and the tools required for enrollment in an accredited vocational program.