Tank truck standouts shine in 2026 TXTA scholarship awards
United Petroleum Transports’ Ashley Perez recently collected the Texas Trucking Association Foundation’s Ed Kyrish Memorial Scholarship award, which goes to the top University of Texas at Austin recipient. The scholarship, established in 2021, is one of 25 TXTA awards for the 2026-27 school year totaling $110,000.
Additionally, UPT’s Larissa Campbell received scholarship assistance for Brookline College and GenOx Transportation’s Kamryn Bishop secured a scholarship award for Texas State University.
The TXTA Foundation this year also funded scholarships for 10 trade and technical applicants pursuing a career in the trucking industry and established a new scholarship award, the John and Kelly Prewitt Memorial Scholarship, in honor of former TXTA chairman and Leadership Award winner John Prewitt and his wife Kelly, who both passed away in 2025.
Originally launched at the TXTA Annual Conference last year, the scholarship fund grew through TXTA member donations and a fundraising dinner held in Houston in May. With more than $50,000 raised, the scholarship will begin supporting trade and technical scholarships soon, the association reported.
“The incredible support behind the John and Kelly Prewitt Memorial Scholarship demonstrates the strength of the TXTA community,” TXTA Foundation Chairman John Craddock said in a news release. “This fund will help open doors for future generations of students pursuing careers in the skilled trades, creating a lasting legacy in John and Kelly’s honor.”
Since 1991, the TXTA Foundation has provided more than $2.8 million in scholarship funds, helping students achieve their education and vocational dreams. This year scholarship recipients include:
Top TXTA Foundation Academic Scholarship Recipients
- Joyce & Herbert E. Skinner Memorial Scholarship (awarded to a top overall recipient): Alyssa Garza, Spirit Truck Lines, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso
- Mike Craddock Memorial Scholarship (four-year scholarship awarded to the top freshman recipient): Clayton Crawford, K.L. Breeden & Sons, Baylor University
- Stoney Reese Stubbs Memorial Scholarship (awarded to the top Texas A&M at College Station recipient): Wiley Bilby, Huntington National Bank, Texas A&M
- Ed Kyrish Memorial Scholarship (awarded to the top The University of Texas at Austin recipient): Ashley Perez, United Petroleum Transports, Texas
- Rex & Marillyn King Foundation Scholarship (awarded to a top recipient): Wade Byrd, Housley Group, Blinn College
2026-27 Academic Scholarship Recipients
- Tanner Birkenfeld, Paidom Meats, Oklahoma State University
- Kamryn Bishop, GenOx Transportation, Texas State University
- Larissa Campbell, United Petroleum Transport, Brookline College
- Annabelle Carrell, Housley Group, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Nolan Christy, Houston Freightliner, San Jacinto College
- Sergio Cruz Ovalle, Holt Truck Centers, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Taylor Davidson, Atmos Energy, Northeast Texas Community College
- Brock Droege, Lonestar Truck Group/TAG Truck Center, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Taylor Finch, Lee Trans, University of Texas at Tyler
- Brianna Gentry, Select Transportation, Sam Houston State University
- Braylon Houston, Kimrad Transport, Texas Tech University
- Gabriel Johnson, ATDS Truck Driving School, University of Texas at Arlington
- Jonathan Klepetko, Houston Freightliner, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Lauren Martinez, Webasto, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Braeden McDaniel, Housley Group, University of Texas at Austin
- Mya Nelson, Bruckner/s Truck & Equipment, Washington State University
- Antonie Rodriguez, Holt Truck Centers, University of Texas at San Antonio
- Hayden Schulz, BWI, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Mary Scheschuk, Scheschuk INC, Texas A&M University at College Station
- Kyra Yates, Housley Group, Texas A & M University at College Station
2026 Trade and Technical Scholarship Recipients
- Logan Ashton, CDL candidate, ATDS Truck Driving School
- Gregory Pena, CDL candidate, Vernon College
- Caleb Pollock, CDL Candidate, Vernon College
- Joel Ramirez, diesel technician, Laredo College
- Casey Richardson, CDL candidate, ATDS Truck Driving School
- Jailen Robertson, diesel technician, Texas State Technical College
- Matthew Saul, CDL candidate, Amarillo College
- Andrew Snyder, CDL candidate, ATDS Truck Driving School
- Felix Tamayo, CDL candidate, ATDS Truck Driving School
- Salavador Torres, diesel technician, Laredo College