Fall 2021 Scholarship Recipients
The Women In Trucking Foundation is proud to celebrate these recipients of its first-round Fall 2021 scholarships. The categories of scholarship are noted: Leadership, Driving, Safety and Technical.
Jennifer Adams
Driving recipient
When I wanted to go to college and I was having a hard time passing the math part on the GED. I found a teacher who worked with me for a year straight. I had one goal, and one goal only, and that was to graduate. I worked so hard that I was accepted to attend Onondaga Community College six months prior to obtaining my GED. I have overcome many obstacles in my life and there will be more to come and I will battle them and become the best person I can become.
Sarah Baumgarten
RITA Lena Daley Recipient - Technical
The biggest obstacle in my life, has been myself. I have a deep and tenacious tendency to show up for others and put my own needs on hold. So much so that I am in my 30s and just now finding ways to sustain myself and have financial freedom. I also have a chronic illness — Late Stage Lyme Disease — which disabled me for a few years, and still affects me pretty intensely, but I push through it. Being a diesel technician has landed me a job where I will finally be receiving proper healthcare, and eventually long-term healing. It took me a long time to get here, and I had to literally fight with tears, blood, and sweat to make it happen.
Mitzi Duenas
Ryder - Driving
Early this year, I had to move to my brother’s studio apartment because of rent increase and I was still struggling financially while trying to attend college for winter quarter. I lived with my brother for about 4 months; due to COVID moratoriums on evictions it was extremely hard trying to find an apartment for myself. I decided I needed to make some sacrifices to get to where I wanted and needed to be. I worked two summer jobs; one of my night jobs required me to be there every day from 4 pm to 4 am, then I had my regular morning job from 8 am to 3:30 pm. It was not easy working many hours, but I saved enough money for a down payment and first month’s rent. I am now thankful I have a place I can call my home!
Dana FIsher
Driving
I became a correctional officer in 2015. I signed up with a trucking company in 2017 to give myself a change of scenery, but my husband, at the time, decided it wasn't the right time for me to leave and go on the road. I continued my corrections career until May 2021 when, my divorce was final, and I am pursuing my life-long dream of becoming a truck driver. I start school on November 8, 2021!
Monika Franklin
Ryder-Driving
A obstacle that I am overcoming now is pursuing my passion as a CDL driver. Right now, I’m working at the hospital, working 12 hours a day and still trying to study for my permit. Dealing with COVID-19 and seeing people die, then coming home to study and pursue my passion as a CDL driver is something that I’m overcoming now. It’s not easy, but it will be worth it in the end and that’s how I motivate myself to continue on of my passion as a CDL driver.
Brianna Glowinski
Leadership
I had sent in dozens of applications for apprentice and entry level programs trying to grow from passenger car repairs to trucks. I was brushed off during interviews and even told they "weren't looking for a secretary. Do you know what you applied for?" At the age of 22, I was accepted into a highly-rated tech program at UNOH. I packed up, and moved 600 miles from home. I took school seriously, graduated tech with 2 degrees and a 3.2 GPA. The job offers poured in after that. Now I am back in school for management and beyond. I am hoping to be someone who can help young ladies get in the door. This industry could use a little more pink.
Kimberley Hansen
Ryder-Tech
In order to pursue this goal, I had to go into this whole school thing alone. In the eyes of Washington, I was considered a homeless youth. Luckily, I always had people in my life who were willing to give me a home, but no one who could become my legal guardian. So, I had to file as an independent, and took out all my own student loans in my own name. That's quite a bit of debt to be in, but worth it for what comes next. I just hope I can get some scholarships to help lower those loans.
Ashley Hawney
Leadership
Growing up, I was not afforded an ideal childhood. My mother was sick with breast cancer for 10+ years, which placed my family into poverty. I knew I wanted to make a change for my family as I got older to be able to support them. I began working at 15.5 years-old to help put groceries on the table. When college applications came around, I used the only money I had left for applications. I had the obstacle of no financial help to go to school. So I worked hard in school, got straight A’s, played sports, did outside activities and was fortunate to receive a full academic scholarship for my undergrad at UNM. I worked 5+ jobs while in school full-time to pay for housing and books, but I archived my goal and graduated in Fall of 2017.
Stephanie Hollister
Ryder-Tech
My age has hardly ever been an advantage in my career paths. I have always been too young for people to take seriously at first glance. When working for a fast food restaurant, there was an older woman who would always call me a little girl. I had let her words get to me until another older coworker pulled me aside and asked me why I wasn't a manager yet. I told her I was too young and she shook her head and said one day I was going to be the manager. I chose to let her words inspire me and it only took one more year and a transfer to a different store for upper management to see my potential. At 20, I had earned my title of restaurant manager despite the many employees who told me I was too young to be one.
Keyara James
driving
I was 27 years old and had been in the same job about 5 years. I started entry-level packing. From there I began to climb the ladder. I became an important face and go-to person on my shift — even on my days off. I was then promoted to machine operator. At that time, I was the only female operator. I believe they were harder on me because I was the only female. So I set out to become a lead. I worked my shift as lead and 1st shift on my off days to train without the pay I deserved. All of this despite the fact that they didn’t want me to be lead. Through all the diversity and all of the issues I still became lead. I also wanted backpay for the pay I didn’t get. They didn’t believe in me until I showed them I was someone to believe in.
Tiffany Koch
driving
I had a major life changing surgery August 2017 and decided to just change the rest of my world at the same time. I had no job at the time of recovery and didn't want to go back to what I was doing before. I decided to ask my family for help with the funds to get my class B license so I could start my career as a bus driver. I don't ask for help very often, but knew I couldn't do this one on my own. At the beginning, it was something I needed to do. It was the greatest decision I've ever made as far as starting myself on a path to something greater and has lead me to my next step in accelerating my career into trucking.
Kat Ruston
driving
As a woman and a visible minority, there have been some challenges as to what "roles" I should be following — a career in science or go back to school, as opposed to entering a trade. However, it's not been awful as Canada does it's best to offer support for my demographic.
Kayla Small
Ryder-Tech
In the past two years I've had to overcome the obstacle of having two different hip surgeries. While it was a huge set back, I didn't let it get in the way of me becoming a mechanic and going to school to further my career and learn all the things that my grandfather couldn't. While in therapy for six months, I had to teach myself to walk again by strengthening the muscles in my hip.
Pamela Stone
LEadership
I knew absolutely nothing about trucking when I started here. I was inexperienced in the programs they used and the verbiage. I learned quickly and worked my way up the ranks. I have had health concerns, but found ways to work from home and never let them down. I have been working two jobs and toward my education goal. I already achieved my associates degree in Liberal Arts, but am returning to get my accounting degree. I am taking what classes I can at the community level to save money.
Victoria Torres-Kortor
Driving
I was 14/15 when I got pregnant with my first child. I knew this was going to be a tough road but I persevered and graduated high school — even graduated a few months ahead of everybody else. I didn’t make excuses even when I really wanted to. I had a lot of help from family, I made it work and graduated high school.