In September and November 2014, the SC&R Foundation awarded seven
additional grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,500 for continuing education
courses or vocational/technical college programs. In past years, all of the
Foundation’s grants were awarded during the SC&RA Annual Conference,
but the Foundation began a program in the summer to select grant winners
on a rolling basis. This strategic change is among a number of steps the
Foundation is taking to help member companies fill the industry’s skilled
labor shortage. The latest SC&R Foundation grant recipients are:
- David Dague, a Mechanic at Keen Transport, New Kingston, Pa., since March 2013, planned to use his $5,000 grant for welding coursework at the Franklin County Career and Technology Center, Chambersburg, Pa. He previously received a $1,100 grant for a course in Welding Orientation and Safe Practices at the same institution.
- James Foley IV, whose duties have included structural welding repairs since joining Wheco Corporation, Aiken, S.C., in May 2014, planned to use his $4,500 grant for welding technologies coursework at Piedmont Technical College, Greenwood, S.C. or Aiken Technical College, Aiken, S.C.
- Randy Heng, who has taken on a range of responsibilities involving heavy equipment repair at Wheco Corporation, Santa Fe Springs, Calif., since November 2010, was awarded actual costs not to exceed $3,700 for coursework in a welding program at Cerritos College, Norwalk, Calif.
- Ivy Hill, a truck driver at Mammoet, Rosharon, Texas since Jan. 2003, is using his $2,800 grant for a mobile crane operator training course at All Purpose Crane Training, Mobile, La.
- Nathan Schellhorn, an assembler at John Deere, Waterloo, Iowa, since May 2012, plans to use his $3,800 grant for welding coursework at Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, Iowa.
- Richard Searle, an intern at Five Star Specialized Carriers, Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada, whose duties include logistics sales, business development, project scheduling and dispatch, plans to use his $2,300 grant for courses in Supply Chain and Logistics coursework at Eastern College, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, or Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Since Sept. 1, the SC&R Foundation has been accepting online applications for grants. Upcoming grant application deadlines are April 30, June 30 and August 31. Grants in amounts ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 are available to those who currently work in the specialized transportation or crane and rigging industry, including SC&RA member company employees, or are interested in working the industry. Courses or classes should be directly related to acquiring necessary skills to advance a career in the industry.
Those wishing to pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree with an
intention of entering the industry served by SC&RA should instead consider
applying for an annual scholarship.