ATA seeks applicants for truck technician scholarship

Arkansas Trucking Association is accepting applications for scholarships supporting students interested in pursuing careers as medium- and heavy-duty truck technicians. Deadline to apply is March 31.

This is the sixth year ATA has offered scholarships of up to $7,500. Link here to apply.

“We are proud to have awarded $75,000 in scholarships to 10 students since establishing the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund, and we look forward to providing career paths for even more of these much-needed truck technicians in the years to come,” said ATA President Shannon Newton. “This scholarship serves to provide our industry with more talented technicians – technicians who are responsible for ensuring the complex equipment that carries freight on our highways arrives safely to its destination.”

In 2017, ATA established the Carl Tapp Memorial Scholarship Fund to encourage growth in the state’s technician workforce. The scholarship is named for the late Carl Tapp who was known for recognizing and empowering talent in the next generation of technicians.

“Carl was a dynamic leader in our industry and helped shape many careers,” said Kenneth Calhoun, Tapp’s former colleague and fleet optimization manager at Altec. “Through this scholarship, we honor his legacy by recruiting and supporting the next generation of technicians as we work toward a stronger, more sustainable workforce for years to come.”

Applicants must be graduating seniors from accredited high schools. Scholarships will be awarded to students attending an at least two-semester medium- and heavy-duty truck technician program at an Arkansas institution. The scholarships are for students starting coursework in August or January. Scholarship recipients are expected to be announced in May.