The Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations has awarded two truck technician scholarships for the 2008-2009 academic year.


Brian G. Haines, Taneytown, Md., is the recipient a scholarship to WyoTech. Daniel Reisinger, Marble, Pa., is the recipient of a scholarship to the University of Northwestern Ohio.

The scholarships are part of an ongoing effort by TMC's Professional Technician Development Committee to promote and enhance the professionalism of commercial vehicle technicians.

Haines of Taneytown, Md., is the fourth recipient of the TMC/WyoTech Diesel Truck Technician Scholarship. He is a 2008 graduate of Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, Md., where he earned a 4.3 GPA. His academic course work included advanced math and science, as well as industrial arts classes. During his senior year he also took classes at the Carroll County Career and Technology Center. For his first three summers of high school, Mr. Haines worked closely with his father inspecting, maintaining and repairing school buses.

The WyoTech full scholarship provides for 1500 clock hours (nine months) attendance to WyoTech's Laramie, Wyo., or Blairsville, Pa., campus. Haines' application was sponsored by TMC member Jack Sukala, J. Jeb Products, Westville, N.J.

Reisinger, Marble, Pa., is the first recipient of the TMC/University of Northwestern Ohio scholarship. He is a 2008 graduate of North Clarion County High School in Tionesta, Pa., where he earned a 2.5 GPA. He demonstrated strong leadership and technical skills in the three years he was part of diesel program at the school's allied Clarion Co. Career Center where he was president of the program in his junior and senior years. One of the projects in which he assisted while in the program was building a 1993 Peterbilt into a show truck that was displayed at the Mid-America Truck Show. The truck received the show's Pride & Polish award for teamwork and an award for youth initiative.

The University of Northwestern Ohio 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. The University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, Ohio, started the first automotive and diesel program in the state in 1973. Reisinger' application was sponsored by TMC member J. David Walters, Alcoa Wheel Products, Cleveland, Ohio.

These technician scholarships are part of the vision of PTDC's founders to recognize technicians and develop and extend technical opportunities for technicians. Wyo-Tech has been a charter donor of technician scholarships and an active participant in PTDC in promoting interest in the truck equipment maintenance field.