Recipients of OTA Education Foundation scholarships, which are earmarked for exceptional first-year post-secondary students, have been awarded to 4 high-achieving students for the 2017 academic year.
The recipients are chosen by the Foundation’s Selection Committee, which spends a great deal of time reviewing applications that are submitted by students who are the children of parents who work in the Ontario trucking industry. “Each year, the Selection Committee is duly impressed and overwhelmed with these applicants’ extraordinary qualifications”, says Foundation chair, Scott Smith. Each of these 2017 scholarship recipients presented an “impressive balance between academic performance, service to community, and strong personal values”, and are “extremely deserving of this extra recognition”.
The JO Goodman, Bud Barr, and George P. Ledson Scholarships are awarded to first-year university applicants, while the CV Hoar Scholarship is awarded to a first-year college applicant. Applicants are asked to describe their academic and personal accomplishments, contributions to community, extra-curricular activities, as well as personal, academic and career goals.
The JO Goodman Scholarship was awarded to Justin Yanosik of Smiths Falls, Ontario. His application was sponsored by Wills Transfer Limited, where Justin’s father has worked for 7 years. Justin is starting his first year at Queen’s University where he is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Engineering.
The Bud Barr Scholarship was awarded to Brooklyn Patrick of Johnstown, Ontario. Her application was sponsored by Kriska Holdings Limited, where Brooklyn’s mother has been employed for 24 years. Brooklyn is pursuing an Honours Bachelor degree in Communications at the University of Ottawa
The George P. Ledson Scholarship was awarded to Brenna Morgan of Paris, Ontario. Her application was sponsored by Logikor Inc., where Brenna’s father has been employed for 9 years. Brenna is studying for degrees in Applied Science and Engineering, with a focus on biotechnology.
The CV Hoar Scholarship was awarded to Ryan Soetemans of Watford, Ontario. His application was sponsored by Van Bree Drainage & Bulldozing Ltd., where Ryan’s mother has been employed for 25 years. Ryan is studying Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology at Lambton College in Sarnia.
All scholarship recipients are selected from qualifying applications from students who are entering their first year of post-secondary studies at public universities or colleges. In addition to the Goodman, Barr, Ledson, and Hoar scholarships, 28 general university and college scholarships for 2017 were previously awarded to students who submitted applications sponsored by Ontario-based trucking and allied trade companies where the applicants’ parents work.
The J.O. Goodman Scholarship is named for Joe Goodman, who for 44 years was Senior Staff Executive of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA). He served as the Foundation’s Executive Director from its beginning in 1958 until 1978.
The Bud Barr Scholarship is named for William (Bud) Barr, who served as the Foundation’s Executive Director from 1992 to 2005, following his retirement from a long career in the Ontario trucking industry. The scholarship honours the memory of Bud Barr, who passed away in 2009.
The George P. Ledson Scholarship is named for George Ledson, who until his resignation in 2015, served as a director on the Foundation’s board for 20 years.
The C. V. Hoar Scholarship is named for Charles Hoar, who is one of the founding members of the OTA Education Foundation and who led the Foundation into its current form when he helped establish the J.O. Goodman Awards in 1979.
General scholarships, including the Goodman, Barr, Ledson, and Hoar 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. For more information on the Foundation or to make a donation, go to: www.otaef.com.
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The OTA Education Foundation is a charitable institution devoted to the furtherance of education for Ontario post-secondary students. Established in 1958, the Foundation was founded with the goal of providing assistance to Ontario students with links to the Ontario trucking industry, and who have demonstrated a commitment to academic success, personal goals, and community service, regardless of their field of study.
