The JD Smith and Sons “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship was awarded to Stephanie Evans, who recently started her first year in the Life Sciences program at McMaster University. In addition to maintaining a 95%-plus average throughout high school, Stephanie is the co-founder of her school’s Safety and Wellness Team and helped lead her school’s Young Women in Leadership club.
Outside the classroom, Stephanie has served as an ambassador for the YMCA Young Leaders, and spent more than 200 hours orchestrating her own guide dog campaign – which has educated 3,000-plus staff and students in Halton on guide dog etiquette – after her best friend lost her eyesight. Stephanie plans to pursue a career in anxiety and degenerative brain disease research, and ultimately would like to provide support to third-world countries through research and awareness about mental health.
“We are extremely pleased to be supporting Stephanie’s educational pursuits through this scholarship, which was established in memory of my father, who contributed immensely to the Ontario trucking industry through his natural leadership abilities”, says Scott Smith, president of JD Smith and Sons. “Stephanie’s leadership initiatives – both in and outside of school – exemplify what this scholarship is all about, and we wish Stephanie success in her future educational and personal endeavours”.
Awarded for the first time in 2008, the J. D. Smith and Sons “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship recognizes one university student who is the child of a parent who works in the Ontario trucking industry, and demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities through undertakings in his/her community, school, or other volunteer work.
The OTA Education Foundation’s Endowed Scholarship program is funded entirely by one-time contributions by the organizations for which the scholarships are named. The eligibility and assessment criteria are determined jointly between the endowed fund contributors and the Foundation, who also administers the scholarship program.