TCA opens scholarship program for 2010-11 school year

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The Truckload Carriers Association has opened the application process for its annual scholarship program and will accept submissions until the final deadline of Friday, June 11, at 5 p.m. ET. Interested students should complete an online application at www.truckload.org/Scholarships.

The eligibility requirements remain the same as last year. A student must:
• Be in good academic standing;
• Be attending an accredited four-year college or university as a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior for 2010-11;
• Be the child, grandchild or spouse of an employee or an employee of a TCA member;
• Be the child, grandchild or spouse of an independent contractor or an independent contractor affiliated with a TCA member;
• Show financial need;
• Show scholastic achievement;
• Maintain full-time student status; and
• Exhibit high character and integrity.

Scholarships will range in amounts from $2,000 to $6,000 and will be awarded in two segments each year. They are awarded without regard to sex, race, color, national origin or religion.

This year’s fund-raising efforts were supported by a $50,000 donation from the National Association of Independent Truckers, more than $12,500 collected from an online auction and more than $15,000 raised from a live auction. These fund-raising efforts bring TCA’s endowment fund to more than $1 million.

“We’re very grateful to the individuals who supported our auctions and to NAIT for its generous donation to the Scholarship Fund,” says Tom McLeod, 2010-11 TCA Scholarship Fund chairman and president and chief executive officer of McLeod Software Corporation of Birmingham, Ala. “Our goal is to help students obtain a college education so they can someday play a greater role in the promotion and furtherance of the trucking industry. The trustees hope to award more than 20 scholarships this year.”

This year’s scholarship application process will be completely automated, as all applications must be completed online (no more faxed or mailed entries). By “going green,” TCA will eliminate paper waste and unnecessary costs, while streamlining the efficiency and speed with which the judges can score the supporting documentation of each applicant.

TCA has been offering scholarships through its Scholarship Fund since 1973. For more scholarship information and to fill out the online application, go to www.truckload.org/Scholarships.