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Katie Watson, West Lafayette, Indiana
Scholarship:  National Association of Independent Truckers ($6,000)

The transportation industry is what keeps America moving ahead. Especially in economically challenging times such as these, transportation is more crucial than ever. It takes strong people to handle the pressures and life of one in the trucking industry. It builds tough people and families. My father is the general manager of a trucking company and it has been an extremely demanding and difficult career, leading to extra hours in the office, and many phone calls in the middle of the night of stranded or troubled drives. The stress resulting from the work even caused a heart attack this year, which he thankfully recovered. The demands of the industry have taken a great toll on my dad and our family, however his work related knowledge has taught me many things. My dad is one of the most hard working people I know and always looks out for the best interest of everyone he manages. He is fair, discerning, and excellent at problem resolution. Many of these life skills have come from the transportation industry and all of his dealings there. I have in turn, learned many of these skills including communication, leadership, the importance of working hard, and never giving up until you have done your best.