ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority recently held its annual scholarship event, awarding $13,000 to students through a fund that is raised entirely from employee donations.
The OCTA Scholarship Fund provided 25 deserving students with awards of $500 to offset their college tuition and help advance their academic careers.
Additionally, the OCTA Scholarship Fund’s highest honor, the CEO Award of $1,000, was presented to Casey Hahn of Lakewood. Hahn is the daughter of Gary Hahn, a journeyman mechanic at OCTA’s Santa Ana bus base. Hahn is pursuing her bachelor’s degree and plans to become a music teacher. Her ultimate goal is to let all her students know that anyone can learn to play an instrument, sing in a choir or perform in a school play.
“I’m always impressed by the caliber of students who receive these scholarships and I’m very proud that OCTA employees continue raising money to invest in the educations of our future leaders in the community,” said OCTA CEO Darrell Johnson.
Since its inception in 1998, the employee-funded program has awarded more than 600 scholarships totaling $346,000. The number of scholarships awarded each year is dependent on the total amount of money donated by OCTA employees and through fundraising events. It is through the generosity of the employees who donate to the scholarship program that allows the OCTA Scholarship Fund to award these valuable scholarships.
The OCTA Scholarship Fund benefits college-aged children and grandchildren of OCTA employees as well as OCTA interns. To be eligible, students must be between 17 and 25 years old and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5. Students must also be attending an accredited college or recognized trade school full time in order to qualify.
Applicants are required to provide two reference letters and to submit an essay describing their reasons for wishing to attend college. The scholarship committee, comprised of volunteer employees, reviews the applications and selects recipients.
OCTA proudly supports this employee-funded program recognizing that college is a valuable investment that benefits not only the individual but the communities in which students live and work.
