The Truckload Carriers Association has opened up the application process for its annual scholarship program, and will accept submissions until the final deadline of Friday, June 11
, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time.

To be eligible, students must be in good academic standing and be attending an accredited four-year college or university as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior for 2010-2011. Applicants must be the child, grandchild, or spouse of an employee or an employee of a TCA member and a child, grandchild or spouse of an independent contractor or an independent contractor affiliated with a TCA member.

Students must show financial need and scholastic achievement, while also maintaining full-time student status. They must also 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 fundraising efforts were supported by a $50,000 donation from the National Association of Independent Truckers (NAIT), more than $12,500 collected from an online auction, and more than $15,000 raised from a live auction. These fundraising 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," said Tom McLeod, 2010-11 TCA Scholarship Fund chairman and president and CEO of McLeod Software. "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 twenty scholarships this year."

All applications must be completed online, at www.truckload.org/Scholarships.