Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, MO  64029
Web site: www.ooida.com
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Contact: Norita Taylor, norita_taylor@ooida.com 
Headquarters: (816) 229-5791

For Immediate Release

OOIDA scholarship program announces selection of year 2003 OOIDA scholars

(Grain Valley, Mo., July 2, 2003) – The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc. (OOIDA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2003 OOIDA Scholarships. The OOIDA scholarship committee performed blind evaluations of all the applications which came in from all across the country.  These five scholars were selected as this year's recipients. All applicants wrote a 500 word essay titled, "Discuss the Pros and Cons of the topic: The Impact of the Truck Industry on my Life and Academic Career."

OOIDA scholarships are available for children, grandchildren, and legal dependents of OOIDA members.

The OOIDA scholars for the 2003 school year are:

	Darren Stafford is the son of member Lewis H. Stafford, Sr., Cambridge, MD.  Darren is enrolled at University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, where he plans to major in Criminal Justice/Business Management. $2,000 scholarship award.
	James Scott is the son of member Kenneth Scott, Lancaster, OH.  James is enrolled at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he plans to major in Microbiology.  $1,000 scholarship award.
	Rebecca Levine is the daughter of member Jerry Levine, Exton, PA.  Rebecca is enrolled at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts and plans to major in Art History.   $1,000 scholarship award.
	Trisha Crutchfield is the daughter of member William Crutchfield, Drexel, NC.  Trisha is enrolled at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and plans to major in Information Science.   $1,000 scholarship award.
	Rebecca Vogel is the daughter of member William Vogel, Atglen, PA.  Rebecca is enrolled at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania where she plans to major in Criminal Justice.  $1,000 scholarship award.

(Pictures are available in .JPG digital format upon request)

The OOIDA Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Program has been assisting the children, grandchildren and legal dependents of OOIDA members in their efforts to gain a higher education since 1998. The students are selected in a blind evaluation conducted by the Scholarship Advisory Committee.

Awarded scholarships are renewable for three (3) additional years.  Tax-deductible donations to the OOIDA Scholarship Program can be sent to the OOIDA Foundation, Inc., 1 NW OOIDA Drive, Grain Valley, Missouri 64029.

OOIDA, the international trade association of professional owner-operators and drivers, is headquartered in Grain Valley, Missouri.  Small business truckers represent nearly half of the total class 7 and 8 trucks operated in the U.S.

Founded in 1973, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) is comprised of more than 162,000 owner-operators, professional drivers, and small business truckers from all 50 states, and Canada.  OOIDA represents the interests of this nation's more than 350,000 small business trucking professionals in the legislative and regulatory processes at both federal and state levels.

1 NW OOIDA Dr.
Grain Valley, MO 64029
e-mail: ooida@ooida.com
Website: ooida.com

Fax (816) 427-4468
Local (816) 229-5791
Toll Free (800) 444-5791

OOIDA Foundation Scholarship Program