TCA announces annual scholarship winners

Twenty-five college students will receive scholarships from the Truckload Carriers Assn.’s (TCA) scholarship fund for the 2013-14 academic year. Out of a grand total of approximately $75,000, the scholarships have been broken down into amounts ranging from $2,725 to $6,250. They are awarded to students associated with the truckload industry.

“Since 1973, our scholarship program has been a source of tremendous pride for TCA and our member companies,” said Josh Kaburick, chairman of TCA’s scholarship fund and the COO of Earl L. Henderson Trucking Company in Salem, IL. “The people who work in the trucking industry already work hard —very hard. By underwriting some of the financial burden for these individuals, we are happy to be reducing stress for families who already sacrifice to move North America’s freight.”

As per TCA’s requirements, each scholarship recipient is entering or already a student in good standing at a four-year college or university. He or she is also associated with a TCA member company as an employee, independent contractor, or the child, grandchild or spouse of an employee or independent contractor.

Additionally, each recipient has shown financial need and scholastic achievement, maintained full-time student status, and demonstrated that he or she is an individual of high character and integrity.

The following students will receive the scholarships:

Matthew Reed
TravelCenters of America
Wadsworth, Ohio
National Association of Independent Truckers Scholarship Winner ($6,250)

Jennifer Hoekstra
Hoekstra Transportation
Peoria, Illinois
Kai Norris Scholarship Winner ($3,250)

Hannah Holloway
EPES Transport
Greensboro, North Carolina
Thomas Welby Scholarship Winner ($3,250)

Jordan Ames
Knight Transportation
Peoria, Arizona
Reese Stubbs Memorial Scholarship ($2,725)

Samantha Block
Comp Care Partners
Morganville, New Jersey
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Timothy Chism
FFE Transportation
Midlothian, Texas
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Tanner Dennis-Brown
Roehl Transport
Marshfield, Wisconsin
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Evan Grant
Baylor Trucking
Mount Vernon, Ohio
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Ethan Grant
Baylor Trucking
Fairborn, Ohio
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Sarah Heerboth
Knight Transportation
St. Louis, Missouri
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Hughston Hodges
Hodges Trucking Company
Athens, Georgia
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Mackenzie Jeffries
Great Dane Trailers
Savannah, Georgia
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Allison Keene
U.S. Xpress Enterprises
Chattanooga, Tennessee
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Sarah Lucas
Hirschbach Motorlines
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Amanda Mankovich
Wabash National Corporation
West Lafayette, Indiana
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Nathaniel McCormick
Fremont Contract Carriers
Hooper, Nebraska
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Wendy McKamie
Fikes Truck Line
Hope, Arkansas
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Ellen Mundie
CRST International/STI Division
Euless, Texas
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Kenna Nelson
Warren Transport
Cedar Falls, Iowa
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Tyler Prebor
Watkins Inc / LandSpan Inc
Gainesville, Florida
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Rachel Ryan
Earl L. Henderson Trucking Company
Hazelwood, Missouri
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Ashley Smith
Knight Transportation
Danville, Illinois
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Kalie Snyder
Wabash National
Mars, Pennsylvania
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Meg Will
Celadon
Fishers, Indiana
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

Courtney Young
TLD
North Charleston, South Carolina
TCA Scholarship Winner ($2,725)

This year, a new scholarship was bestowed in memory of Stoney “Reese” Stubbs, son of Russell and Dawn Stubbs of FFE Transportation Services, Inc., Dallas, Texas. He was only 20 years old when he passed away in June 2012. Stubbs was an all-around athlete and a natural born leader who had an ability to motivate, lead, and inspire others to greatness.

The idea for the Reese Stubbs Memorial Scholarship came from Mark Kessler, senior vice president of PeopleNet of Minnetonka, MN. Kessler is the founder of the annual Transportation Executive Summit at Pebble Beach, a three-day event for CEOs to discuss and advance best practices in the transportation field. Part of the event includes fund-raising for various transportation-related charities, like the American Transportation Research Institute, TCA’s Scholarship Fund, Wreaths Across America, and Trucker Buddy. Kessler thought a memorial scholarship in Stubbs’ name would be appropriate.

“The Stubbs have been pioneers of the trucking industry for several decades,” said Kessler, “and the recent loss of this bright young man was felt deeply… not just by his family, but throughout the entire transportation community. I hope the awarding of the annual scholarship can provide a legacy for Reese that will help improve our industry for decades to come.”

Applications for the 2014-15 scholarships will be due in June 2014. For more details about TCA’s Scholarship Fund and this year’s winners, please visit www.truckload.org/Scholarships.