TORONTO, Ont. – The OTA Education Foundation selected five recipients of its Endowed Scholarship program recently.

The Bison Transport Scholarship, reserved for a post-secondary student who demonstrates a commitment to his/her academic studies and is currently enrolled at a university or college in Canada, was awarded to Julian Donovan. Donovan is in his third year of an Honours Business Administration degree at the University of Western Ontario’s Ivey Business School. His goal is to one day become a social entrepreneur.

The Erb Group of Companies “Service to Community” Scholarship, given to a first-year post-secondary student involved in community or charitable work, was given to Kevin Soetemans. Soetemans, a resident of Watford, Ontario is a student at the University of Windsor and is studying international relations and development. He has been a member of the Watford Branch of the Lambton Organization for Literacy, where, for four years, he has volunteered every week to help younger students improve their math skills. He has also been an active member of the NLSS Athletic Association, and served as co-president for one year. As a member of the Student Senate for the Lambton-Kent District School Board, he co-ordinated fundraising to support the construction of a school in Zambia.

The JD Smith and Sons “Leaders of Tomorrow” Scholarship, given to one student who is the child of a parent who works in the Ontario trucking industry and who demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities, was awarded to Nicole Soetemans. Soetemans’ mother is the office manager with VanBree Drainage and Bulldozing in Warwick. Soetemans was the president of her high school’s Athletic Association and was the recipient of her school’s premier award, the I. R. Davis Leadership Award for excellence in academics in combination with superb leadership skills. Nicole is working towards a degree in science with an honours’ specialization in chemistry at the University of Western Ontario.

The OTA Professional Driver Memorial Scholarship, reserved for children of a commercial driver, was awarded to Valarie Wood. Wood’s father is a driver for Canada Cartage. Valarie is a third year student enrolled in forensic science at Trent University.

Finally, the OTA Allied Trades Division Scholarship was awarded Lauren Stacey, a fourth year student at Queen’s University, who is studying Global Development. She is going to pursue a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy and hopes to assist disadvantaged persons in the future.

The OTA’s Endowed Scholarships are funded by one-time contribution by the organizations for which the scholarships are named.

For more information on the Foundation or to donate, go to: www.otaef.com.