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Katherine Hoekstra

Katherine Hoekstra
St. Anne, Illinois
Hoekstra Transportation, LLC
Scholarship Won: National Association of Independent Truckers Scholarship - $6,000

The trucking industry has been a part of my family life since before I was born. My grandpa told my dad to start a business after acquiring a few semis. Over 20 years later, the company has grown tremendously. It is inspiring to see how hard my dad has worked to get to where he is today. He travels a lot, going to business meetings and attempting to increase his number of customers. He sacrifices free time to be at the office. All of his hard work and late nights in a semi have paid off and he did it all to support his family.

Family has always been important in my life. The trucking company works with my uncle to transport his potatoes. My family pas passed along the businesses to the next generation since my great-grandpa started framing. We are all connected by these local businesses and I have every intent to keep it that way.

My dad gave each of his children the opportunity to become familiar with the company that he built. My sister and I both stated doing office work as 4th and 5th graders. The experience of being in the trucking environment is something that a person can’t gain through textbooks or exams, but needs to encounter for himself or herself.

I am proud of what my dad has done to an age not only a successful business, but one that flourishes. I would be more than honored to follow in his footsteps and continue to instill pride in those who see and are a part of the hard work and tradition that goes into Hoekstra Transportation.