Seven students and one professor in San Jacinto College’s Bachelor of Applied Technology in logistics and supply chain management program received more than $30,000 in Transportation Club of Houston scholarships.
The scholarships represent 30% of the club’s funding to students in logistics, supply chain, and maritime programs in 2026. San Jac is the first community college to participate at this scale.
Richard Shook, president of the Transportation Club of Houston, said San Jac’s students distinguished themselves for their preparation and initiative, most submitting their scholarship applications shortly after the portal opened.
“What stood out to us about San Jac is how practical, career-focused, and punctual the students are,” he said. “Many of them already have a good understanding of the opportunities available in maritime and transportation and are eager to get into the industry.”
Logistics scholarship recipients
Shook credited faculty involvement and the program’s location at the North Campus as part of that strength.
“San Jac has a unique connection to the Houston maritime community. Students are learning about the industry right in the middle of one of the largest ports and resilient transportation markets in the world,” he said. “Having professors who are engaged with both their students and the industry only strengthens that connection.”
Seven of the program’s 43 students received Transportation Club scholarships this year, while five others earned awards from the International Trade and Maritime Association, the Southwest Association of Rail Shippers, and the Institute for Supply Management, bringing total industry scholarship support to more than $56,000.
“Industry votes with its time and resources,” said Margaret Kidd, logistics and supply chain management department chair. “This investment in our students demonstrates that employers recognize the quality of San Jac’s logistics graduates and are committed to building the next generation of supply chain leaders.”
“Industry votes with its time and resources. This investment in our students demonstrates that employers recognize the quality of San Jac’s logistics graduates and are committed to building the next generation of supply chain leaders.” — Margaret Kidd, logistics and supply chain management department chair
Among the recipients is Kitara Smolinski, a mate on offshore supply vessels who transports materials and provisions to ships and oil rigs in the Gulf. She earned an Associate of Applied Science in maritime transportation from San Jac in 2025 and will begin the bachelor’s program this fall.
“Pursuing a degree in logistics and supply chain management is an investment for a future career pathway once I transition from actively working on offshore vessels to a shoreside position,” Smolinski said.
Scholarships have made her education possible.
“Scholarships funded by organizations like this one made the biggest difference in my ability to complete that first degree,” Smolinski said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to accept this award and use it toward my future.”
For fellow recipient Axel Cruz, a simple question sparked his interest in logistics: How do products get from manufacturers to store shelves?
“Most people go to a store, buy what they need, and leave without thinking about how the product they bought got there in the first place,” Cruz said. “Those are the kinds of questions I ask myself, and that’s what made me interested in pursuing a career in logistics.”
Now on track to graduate in 2029, Cruz credits Kidd and logistics professor Ivy Jenkins for inspiring him to apply for the scholarship.
Ivy Jenkins (right) accepting scholarship from Richard Shook
The Transportation Club also recognized Jenkins with a scholarship supporting his doctoral studies.
“As a descendant of generations of individuals who were not afforded the opportunity to pursue a formal education, I view my educational journey as both a personal achievement and a tribute to their resilience, sacrifices, and unrealized aspirations,” Jenkins said.
The scholarship will help him complete his doctorate while continuing to mentor future logistics professionals.
“Receiving this scholarship is both humbling and deeply meaningful,” Jenkins said. “It provides critical support as I work toward completing my doctoral program.”
The logistics bachelor’s degree prepares students for careers in transportation, maritime, trade, and supply chain industries through applied coursework, industry partnerships, and real-world learning opportunities.
Other Transportation Club scholarship recipients include Cynthia Alanis, Sandra Castellano Amadiz, Heather Guajardo, Elizabeth Tigner, and Venus Turner.
Learn more about the bachelor’s degree in logistics.
By Melissa Trevizo
