Students and parents are encouraged to go to the OTA Education Foundation’s website to download the 2015 application forms for Education Foundation scholarships. Students can apply for university or college scholarships in the amounts of $1,500 and $1,000 respectively to help them fund their tuition and other academic fees.
Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria and be sponsored by an Ontario trucking or trucking services/supply company that employs or contracts a parent of the applicant. In addition, students must submit a brief essay that answers a question about the trucking industry.
Students entering their first year of post-secondary directly from high school are eligible to apply for the J.O. Goodman, the Bud Barr, or the C.V. Hoar Awards. While the same application form can be used, there are additional requirements. Applicants are assessed on criteria which include academic achievement, service to community, and participation in extra-curricular activities. Winners for these three awards are chosen by the Foundation’s Selection Committee.
The Student Scholarship Application Package for the 2015/2016 academic year contains complete information and instructions, along with all the necessary forms for all the awards.
General scholarships are funded by annual donations, which, in large part, come from Ontario trucking and allied trades companies. The number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent on the amount that the Foundation receives in donations. To download the 2015/2016 application package or to make a donation go to www.otaef.com.
Meanwhile, the Foundation’s board also encourages students to take the time to review all the scholarship opportunities that the Foundation offers. The scholarships are offered in addition to the Foundation’s General Scholarships, which are available exclusively to children of parents who work in trucking and trucking-related companies. Endowed scholarship recipients are chosen by the Foundation’s Selection Committee. Students can apply for as many scholarships as they want, and are eligible to win more than one.
Applications are available to download from the Foundation’s website for the following scholarships:
Bison Transport Scholarship: Awarded to a full-time student enrolled in a recognized Transportation, Logistics, Human Resources or Business program at a Canadian university or college.
The Erb Group of Companies “Service to Community” Scholarship: Awarded to a first-year post-secondary student enrolled in a recognized college or university, who demonstrates a commitment to his/her community, through his/her involvement in community and/or charitable volunteer work.
J.D. Smith & Sons “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship: Awarded to a university student who demonstrates a commitment to his/her community, school or other volunteer undertaking while demonstrating exemplary leadership qualities.
OTA Allied Trades Division Scholarships: Awarded to one university student and one college student, who has completed at least one year of post-secondary education, and who has demonstrated a strong commitment to his/her academic success.
OTA Professional Driver Memorial Scholarship Award: Awarded to one university student each year who is the son or daughter of a professional commercial truck driver.
Scholarships have also been endowed by other companies, for which recipients are selected by secondary schools or post-secondary institutions. Don Anderson Haulage has sponsored annual scholarships to two graduating students from Stouffville District Secondary School, and Grant’s Transport awards one scholarship annually to a graduating student from Timiskaming District Secondary School. Both Glasvan Great Dane Trailer Sales and Trailcon Leasing provide assistance to students enrolled in trailer service technician studies at Conestoga College, while TST Overland Express awards two scholarships to students enrolled in International Transportation and Customs at Seneca College.
For more information and to download application forms, go to the Endowed Scholarship page on the Foundation’s website at www.otaef.com.
