TORONTO, Ont. – The OTA Education Foundation has awarded scholarships to five over-achieving students for the 2015 academic year.

The recipients are selected by the foundation’s selection committee, which spends hours reviewing applications that are submitted by students who are the children of parents who work in the Ontario trucking industry.

“These students exhibit an impressive balance between academic abilities, service to community and strong personal values, and are extremely deserving of this additional recognition,” said Scott Smith, chair of the OTA Education Foundation.

Juliane Clemente of Scarborough, Ont. and Abhishek Paul of Mississauga, Ont. were awarded the JO Goodman Scholarship (named for Joe Goodman, who for 44 years was senior staff executive of the OTA) that is reserved for outstanding first-year university applicants.

Clemente’s application was sponsored by Kriska Holdings where her father works as a driver. She is studying physical and environmental sciences at the University of Toronto. Paul’s application was sponsored by Highland Transport, where his father has worked as an owner/operator for five years. He is also a student of the University of Toronto, where he is studying computer engineering.

Jack Mills of Ancaster, Ont. and Tressa Oke of Courtland, Ont. received the Bud Barr Scholarship, named for Bud Barr, the foundation’s executive director from 1992 to 2005.

Mills’s application was sponsored by Challenger Motor Freight where his father is employed as a long haul commercial driver. He is studying commerce at Queen’s University. Tressa’s application was sponsored by Kriska Holdings where her father, also a long haul commercial driver, works. She is studying biological science at the University of Guelph.

Finally the CV Hoar Scholarship (named for Charles Hoar, who is one of the founding members of the OTA Education Foundation) given to an outstanding first-year college applicant was awarded to Joanne Gonsalves of Brampton, Ont.

Her application was sponsored by TST Overland Express where her mother works as a PAPS agent. Gonsalves is attending George Brown College where she is studying Fashion Management.