The OTA Professional Driver Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Matthew Kauk, whose father has worked as an owner-operator for 28 years with Excell Stamping in Kenilworth, Ontario. Matthew speaks highly of his father, who has been driving trucks professionally since he was 18 years old, and got his start behind the wheel at the age of 10 when he started backing up trucks to docks for his father’s and uncle’s trucking business.
“He always said he had more backing-up experience than going forward prior to getting his AZ license”, said Matthew in his application essay. Matthew is studying for a degree in Mathematics at the University of Waterloo, and also says that regardless of what industry he works in, he would like to “have the dedication and work ethic” that he sees in his father.
The OTA Professional Driver Memorial Scholarship recognizes the hard work, dedication and professionalism of all Ontario truck drivers, and honours the memory of those who have lost their lives while driving on-the-job.
The OTA Allied Trades University Scholarship was awarded to Mallory Haggith who just started her third year at Ottawa’s Carleton University where she is enrolled in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) Program with a specialization in Global Law and Social Justice. Mallory hopes to obtain a Bachelor’s degree with distinction and then pursue a Master’s degree. Mallory has been accepted to study at Macquarie University in Sydney Australia in 2021, and would ultimately like to pursue a career with the Canadian Government in National Defence.
The OTA Allied Trades College Scholarship was awarded to Autum McDougald-Ashby who recently started her second of a four-year Bachelor of Design program at Conestoga College in Kitchener. Autum aspires to become a graphic designer for organizations, like the Clearwater Marine Rescue Centre in Florida, that seek to care for distressed marine animals. She also plans to continue volunteering for the Guelph Food Bank where, as their social media marketer, she continues to add to her portfolio while assisting the organization.
The OTA Allied Trades Scholarships are awarded annually to one university and one college student, each of whom has completed at least one year of post-secondary education, and who has demonstrated a strong commitment to his/her academic performance.
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.