Archive for month: April, 2014

The scholarship committee is excited to share with all of you that have an interest in the success of the scholarship awards program the many changes for 2014. Because of the generosity of participating chapters who have contributed to the fund and fund raising activities, the scholarship fund is on its way to a record high reserve.

We want to encourage all members who might have ideas on fund raising events to contact your local chapter chairperson.

We are looking forward to our annual scholarship BBQ fundraiser at the facility of Superior Trailer Works, in Fontana, in 2014. The BBQ fundraiser was able to raise a record high of $11,000 last year with the help of affiliate member donations, volunteers and of course we could not have done it without the help and hospitality of Jay Pocock from Superior Trailer Works.

For those of you that attended the fundraiser in July, please start spreading the word to all your friends and family about our next gathering. We will be posting information regarding all fundraising events in the magazine and our website.
Remember that this program is promoting education and the future of our next generation of young people. Read more

The Scholarship Committee recently met and discussed ways to increase the scholarship contributions so that we could increase both the number and amount of the scholarships given out each year. We discussed all the existing “designated scholarships” in the name of those who have given and those that continue to give.

Most recently, we decided to name a “Jay Pocock – Superior Trailer Works Scholarship Award,” for Jay’s unwavering and generous hosting of our annual Summer Scholarship Fund Raiser at his yard in Fontana. So far we have scholarships named after the following members, affiliates and organizations: Read more

On Wednesday, April 10th, we took over the Bowlium in Montclair with approximately 50 people. It was a night of fun with family and friends to raise money for the CDTOA Scholarship fund.

With 33 people who actually bowled, we had great food and lots of fun with great friends! Our “Most Strikes Champion” went to Walt Benson with 13 strikes total!

Dennis and Carol Coker sponsored Walt $10 per strike – $130 total. Read more

By Angela M. Rodriguez

Greetings, California Construction Trucking Association (CCTA) members!  My name is Angela Rodriguez, and my father, Jorge Rodriguez, is a member of the CCTA with his Columbo Trucking Inc. Company.

I was privileged with being awarded a CCTA scholarship in 2006 for my freshman year at Princeton University.  As a first-generation college student in my family who traveled across the entire country to attend college, it was such a relief to know that the financial burden of college was one less thing my family and I had to worry about, thanks in part to the CCTA scholarship.

I graduated from Princeton in 2011 with departmental honors in Sociology.  My years there were definitely some of the most challenging years in my life, but also a time of incredible personal growth.

My greatest achievement at Princeton was my senior thesis, titled: “Latino/a Parental Involvement and Student Academic Achievement: A Case Study of the Los Angeles Parent School Partnership Program.”  This culminating project took two years to complete, and it was inspired by a summer internship I had done with a civil rights organization in Los Angeles.

In addition to tackling an academically rigorous course load, I was also deeply involved with the Student Volunteers Council, Peer Academic Advising Program, and the Community-Based Learning Initiative Office on campus.  Participating in these and other extracurricular activities enabled me to find a balance between classes and everything else, but it most importantly allowed me to do what I am most passionate about; helping my community.

As I continue along in my life journey, I am currently a Dean’s Merit Scholar at the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy, in the Master of Public Administration Program.  I look forward to receiving my master’s degree in May 2014.  Thus far, this program has been a great learning experience and is every day helping me become an expert and leader in the realm of public administration.  With this professional degree, my aspirations include implementing quality education reform through local and/or state government agencies, such as the Los Angeles County Office of Education and the California Department of Education.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making the college dream possible for students like me through your generous contributions!  With your help, we are able to become agents of change in reaching a more equal society!