March Trucker Buddy Of The Month
Waupaca, WI "In my 19 years of teacher, I have not seen so much excitement toward learning as I do when the kids are learning from Trucker Dave," said Sharyn Powell, third grade teacher. Her students at Half Day School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, have been corresponding with David Matousek, for the past four years.
Each year, Trucker Dave, who lives in Rolling Meadows, IL sends his students post cards from around the country as he delivers his loads for Jevic Transportation (Delanco, NJ.) He has taught the children about the space program through his visit at the Kennedy Space Center. He also returned from a trip to Japan, bringing photos and stories from his international travels.
Ms. Powell nominated Trucker Dave as this month`s Driver of the Month because he has taught her students more than geography, math and writing, "he has shared his positive moral values in teaching the kids about the importance of family, education and a positive work ethic," she added.
"Trucker Dave is a terrific person," according to students, Audrey and Emily, "he teaches us like he is our assistant teacher," they added. Many of the students insisted that their Trucker Dave is so smart. Students Kiele and Jack said that he has a "sparkling personality," and that when he sent them trivia questions from his visit to the Golden Gate Bridge, he "really had us stomped" (sic).
Trucker Buddy Dave is one of nearly 4,000 professional drivers who share their time with elementary classes throughout the world. The only criteria to be a Trucker Buddy is to be a truck driver and willing to send a post card each week to a class in grades two through eight. Drivers and teachers can find out more about the program by visiting www.truckerbuddy.org or calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.
Dave Matousek will receive a personalized jacket, along with a check for $300 to spend on his class and $200 in Trucker Buddy merchandise, compliments of MultiMedia (www.tmi-multimedia.com), the advertising agency of choice for the trucking industry. He will also receive an IdleAire adaptor (www.IdleAire.com) and a Koolatron cooler. The class will receive a CrossCountry USA game from Ingenuity Works (www.ingenuityworks.com), which will help them learn more about how trucks move freight across the continent.
Trucker Buddy is dependent on corporate sponsors such as MultiMedia Advertising to fund the program. Major contributors include:
Platinum Level Sponsors: Gears, Guts & Glory Magazine, Randall Trucking Media Group, TransCore, and ProTrucker & OTR.
Gold Level Sponsors: American Trucking Association, ArvinMeritor, Driving Force/rpm, Delphi, Freightliner, IdleAire, Kenworth, Penray, Midnight Trucking Radio, Truckin` Bozo, Mike Ryan Motorsports, TruckDriver.com and Wal-mart.
Silver Level Sponsors: Bridgestone/Firestone, CCJ, OTR-Canada, Riggs & Recruits, and TruckFLIX.com.
Interested sponsors can contact Ellen at Trucker Buddy International or by calling 1-800-MY BUDDY.
