Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation Announces New Corporate Named Scholarship: GKS Lifting and Moving Solutions LLC
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(Centreville, VA - November 16, 2020) - The Specialized Carriers & Rigging Foundation (SC&RF) has announced a new corporate named scholarship sponsored by SC&RA (Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association) member company GKS Lifting and Moving Solutions LLC – based out of Springfield, Ohio.
GKS committed to an amount of $1,000 per year, for three years. Each year, a recipient will be chosen by SC&RF to receive the scholarship, and the money draws down on the initial donation. Vocational/Technical Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed six times annually.
The awards represent an ongoing and overall workforce development initiative/strategic objective for the Foundation. Additional SC&RF workforce development spending (to total $855,000 to date) includes Lift & Move USA, and curriculum development.
GKS Program Manager Benjamin Dobrowolski indicated that the company had been looking for a way to get involved with SC&RA and also support the industry with a greater impact. “Basically, we reached out to SC&RF and noticed there was a need for scholarship opportunities from a corporate perspective,” he said. “We saw it as a chance to support the industry and help to close the skills gap. Obviously, if the industry succeeds, GKS succeeds as well.”
Dobrowolski also pointed out that he needn’t look farther than Springfield for inspiration. “We’re located in a rust belt town that was booming in the 1950s – and a good portion of the industry left. Springfield is starting to see revitalization, and we know that if more folks have additional opportunities to make the skilled trades a reality in their lives, towns like ours, and many others across the country, can see a positive impact. It’s a priority that we feel is critical to the future of the industry, and it’s something we want to be a part of.”
Additional SC&RA member companies who’ve established scholarships with SC&RF are: Terex ($21,000 in 2011), Anderson Trucking ($25,000 in 2014), the McTyre Family ($10,000 in 2015), Heartland Communications/Crane Hotline ($9,000 in 2015), the International Union of Operating Engineers ($11,000 in 2017), the Taylor Foundation ($7,000 in 2017), White Brothers Trucking ($15,000 in 2017) and JK Crane ($3,500 in 2017).
SC&RF is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to serve the crane, rigging and specialized transport industry through workforce development, educational assistance, research and educational initiatives. The Foundation awards between $30,000 and $55,000 annually to individuals in addition to training courses as donated by partner organizations. Research projects include an industry financial benchmark study, recruiting videos, a mobile app of industry terms, and transportation-specific research. Information on research, award deadlines and free downloads to members can be found at
www.scr-foundation.org.
For further information, contact:
Jackie Roskos
Director, Foundation
(703) 207-3587
jroskos@scranet.org
The SC&RF is comprised of members of SC&RA and operates as a separate 501c3 organization to benefit the members and industry. Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) is an international trade association of more than 1,400 members from 46 nations. Members are involved in specialized transportation, machinery moving and erecting, industrial maintenance, millwrighting and crane and rigging operations, manufacturing and rental. SC&RA helps members run more efficient and safer businesses by monitoring and affecting pending legislation and regulatory policies at the state and national levels, researching and reporting on safety concerns and best business practices and providing four yearly forums where these and other relevant member issues can be advanced.