Women In Trucking Foundation Awards Nine Scholarships Totaling $11,500
Plover, WI (PRWEB) April 19, 2016 -- Women In Trucking (WIT) Foundation awarded nine scholarships totaling $11,500. Even more scholarships will be awarded late this summer/ early fall. The scholarship was recently increased to a minimum of $1,000 per award.
Three of the recipients were awarded WIT Scholarships in the amount of $1,000.
Lakenya Anderson – enrolled at All-State Career in Baltimore, Md. for CDL
Timothy Contreras – enrolled at Pima Community College in Tucson, Az. for CDL
Maria Munoz – enrolled at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. for Mechanical Engineering
At a recent in-person strategic planning session, the WIT Foundation board set a goal of raising $1 million over the next five years to “forwarding the future careers” of women and men in the transportation industry. These exciting initiatives were spurred by major donations received at the end of 2015.
The J. J. Keller Foundation authorized a $10,000 grant to the WIT Foundation in honor of former WIT Foundation chair Jan Hamblin’s 40 years of service to J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and in recognition of her commitment to the Women In Trucking organization. The Jan Hamblin WIT Scholarship Fund was established to provide financial resources for women who choose to pursue or enhance their education related to the trucking industry.
Emily Habeck was awarded the first Jan Hamblin WIT Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Emily is attending the University of Wisconsin—Madison and is majoring in Supply Chain Management.
The Ryder Charitable Foundation recently donated $25,000, the largest one-time donation since the WIT Foundation’s inception in 2011. The funds are used to provide scholarships to worthy recipients who are seeking careers in the trucking industry. Ryder representatives helped in the selection of the recipients.
This month, five women received the Ryder/WIT scholarship each in the amount of $1,500.
Corinna Carter – enrolled at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tenn. for Mechanical Engineering
Heather Dodson – enrolled at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Md. for CDL
Wanda Lee-Ann Edwards van Muijen – enrolled at Professional Transport Driver Training School in Winnipeg, Man. in Canada for class 1 training
Susan Murphy – enrolled at Midwest Technical Institute in Springfield, Mo. for CDL
Shanna Waters – enrolled at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, Ga. for CDL
During the January annual meeting, the Foundation board also elected officers. Debora Babin Katz of TrucBrush Corporation, who had been serving as interim chair upon Jan Hamblin’s retirement, was elected as Chair. Jeana Hysell of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. was re-elected as Vice Chair, Nicole Correll of Ryder Fleet Product was elected as Secretary, and Jason Henderson of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin was elected as Treasurer. Other board members include Les Rozander of Trimac Transportation’s Canadian operation, John Dietze of BMO Transportation Finance, Sandra Sanford of TravelCenters of America, LLC, and Joyce Brenny of Brenny Transportation, Inc. and Brenny Specialized, Inc.
As a nonprofit 501c3, the WIT Foundation board is thrilled with the momentum it has gained and they are working diligently to increase both awareness of its scholarship program and corporate donations. The Foundation strives to serve its community and continue to grow with the help of its donors and volunteers that make their mission possible. To make a donation or for more information about the WIT Foundation scholarship program, visit: http://www.womenintruckingfoundation.org.
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The Women In Trucking Foundation is affiliated with the nonprofit organization Women In Trucking Association, Inc., and is responsible for raising funds for scholarships and encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry. Women In Trucking Association, Inc. is a nonprofit association established to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote their accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the trucking industry. Membership is not limited to women, as 17 percent of its members are men who support the mission. Women In Trucking is supported by its members and the generosity of Gold Level Partners: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Daimler Trucks North America, BMO Transportation Finance, Great Dane, J.B. Hunt Transport, Ryder System, Inc., U.S. Xpress, and Walmart.
Ellen Voie, Women In Trucking Association, Inc., http://www.womenintrucking.org, +1 920-312-1350, [email protected]
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