The Omnitracs Mike Ham Memorial Scholarship

Omnitracs is pleased to sponsor an annual scholarship to honour the life and legacy of Mike Ham, who passed away in 2020. Mike played a significant role in the progress of the Canadian trucking industry for nearly 30 years. As a testament to the respect that Mike earned from customers and colleagues alike, several close industry friends have also contributed to the Omnitracs scholarship endowment as a way of honouring Mike’s memory.

Colleagues describe Mike as having been a leader, mentor and trusted advisor, as well as a caring and compassionate friend. He is also remembered as believing in doing the “right thing” and constantly reminding those around him to “take the high road”. Mike also placed a great deal of importance on education at every level, but had a particular appreciation for education that continued after secondary school through college and university. After high school, Mike chose to delay starting university to work full time. His success early in his career made the decision to go to university more difficult. His compromise was to work full time to advance his career while earning his degree at night. While not an easy path, it was one that he often said provided him with the opportunity to pursue his interest in business while developing communication, problem-solving and time-management skills. An advocate of lifelong learning, he later returned to university to earn two graduate certificates in business.

Mike always enjoyed working with and mentoring young people. He was inspired by their confidence, enthusiasm, and insights, all of which he felt were fostered throughout their post-secondary experiences. He also believed that a post-secondary education helps to prepare young people for future contributions to the communities in which they live and work. He also believed that a well-rounded education included having a passion for an activity or hobby outside of the classroom. Benefits of extra-curricular involvement include appreciation for teamwork, enhanced communication skills, and using passion to fuel drive, all of which Mike believed are transferable to the workplace. Mike also had an appreciation for the cost of post-secondary education. His family and friends believe that he would be pleased that this scholarship was established to assist young people with their college and university expenses.

The scholarship recipients will be selected by the OTA Education Foundation Selection Committee. The maximum scholarship amount is $1,250.

Note: Only scholarship winners will be notified. Scholarship funds will be advanced to the recipient’s post-secondary institution and will be credited to the account identified by the student number provided in the online application.