The Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations has awarded five truck technician scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year in partnership with WyoTech, the University of Northwestern Ohio and Lincoln Technical Institute.


Kyle Daniel Jones, Cairo, Mo., and Justin Paul Kahle, Leeper, Pa., were awarded WyoTech scholarships for attendance at either the Laramie, Wyo., or Blairsville, Pa., campus. Jones selected the Laramie campus and Kahle selected the Blairsville campus. Nathan Crum, Batesville, Ind., was awarded an UNOH scholarship for study in auto/diesel technology or specialized studies in automotive management at the Lima, Ohio, campus. Jeffrey Stegall, Huntsville, Mo., and Eric Logan Hollifield, Bakersville, N.C., received scholarships to attend any one of six LTI locations. Both chose to attend LTI's Nashville Auto Diesel College, Nashville, Tenn.

The scholarships, part of an ongoing effort by TMC's Professional Technician Development Committee to promote and enhance the professionalism of commercial vehicle technicians, were formally announced during TMC's 2011 Fall Meeting, held Sept. 19-22 in Raleigh, N.C.

Jones is a 2011 graduate of Northeast Randolph County High School in Cairo, Mo., where he excelled in vocational training, particularly auto body repair. During his senior year, Jones work 30-40 hours per week as a parts specialist for O'Reilly Auto Parts. His application was sponsored by TMC member Dennis J. Winn, business development manager for Orscheln, Moberly, Mo.

Kahle is a 2011 graduate of North Clarion County High School, Tionesta, Pa., where he lettered in cross country and track and field. During his senior year, he participated in the Clarion County Career Center where he maintained a 3.0 GPA in the Automotive Technology program, earning certificates in Steering and Suspension, Brakes, Engine Performance, and Battery and Charging Systems.

The WyoTech full scholarship provides for 1500 clock hours (nine months) attendance to WyoTech's Laramie, Wyo., or Blairsville, Pa., campus.

Crum is a 2011 graduate of East Central High School, St. Leon, Ind., where he held a 3.2 GPA. Throughout his high school years, Crum worked an average of 20 hours a week at his family's trucking company, Crum Trucking, as a level one technician, in addition to working on his grandfather's farm doing equipment maintenance and field work. Extracurricular activities included Future Farmers of America and volunteering in the local food pantry. His career goal is to work up to the highest technician level and then working in equipment maintenance as a manager/supervisor.

The UNOH tuition-only scholarship is provided to students working toward a degree in auto diesel technology or a bachelor degree in specialized studies, with a minor in automotive aftermarket management. UNOH, Lima, Ohio, started the first automotive and diesel program in the state in 1973.

Stegall is a 2011 graduate of Westran High School, Huntsville, Mo., where he earned a 3.48 GPA and served on the student council for three years, two as vice president and the last year as president. He worked part time in construction with his father and looks forward to a career in auto body paint and repair.

Hollifield is a 2011 graduate of Mitchell High School, Bakersville, N.C., where he was active in basketball, baseball, Future Farmers of American and SkillsUSA. He races four wheelers on the Grand National cross-country circuit for which he does his own trouble shooting and maintenance on his vehicle.

The LTI scholarship is awarded for a 1200-1560 hour program, depending on location, to one of six Lincoln Technical Institute/Lincoln College of Technology/Nashville Auto Diesel College locations in Denver, Colo; Indianapolis; Nashville, Tenn; Grand Prairie, Texas; E. Windsor, Conn.; or S. Plainfield, N.J. The scholarship is awarded for tuition only.

The scholarships are part of the vision of PTDC's founders to recognize technicians and develop and extend technical opportunities for technicians. WyoTech has been a charter donor of technician scholarships. WyoTech, UNOH and LTI are active participants in PTDC and provide the scholarships to promote interest in the truck equipment maintenance field. Scholarship information and applications are available online at http://tmc.truckline.com.