In May 2023, AlaTrade launched an annual college scholarship program to specifically support the children of AlaTrade employee-owners. Last year, AlaTrade proudly awarded its inaugural college scholarships to two exceptional students, both daughters of dedicated employee-owners, each young woman receiving a $2,000 scholarship. This year, the tradition continues for a second year – Kelly Juan Jaimes and Caronna Brooks were recently awarded scholarships in the amount of $2,000, which will go toward funding their educations at Gadsden State Community College and Brenau University, respectively.
AlaTrade consistently works toward growth, and it is a company-wide hope that each employee-owner feels as though they have ample opportunity. What better way to support growth and reward the hard work of AlaTrade’s employees than by investing in the education of their children?
The scholarships for AlaTrade are location-based. There are two total scholarships available, one that will be awarded to a Phenix City student, and the other will be awarded to a student in the area surrounding the North Alabama plants in Albertville and Boaz. To be eligible for the scholarship, the students must be from the graduating class of the scholarship year, they must be enrolled in courses for the subsequent summer or fall semesters, they must be attending classes at an accredited college or university, and they must have a parent or guardian employed by AlaTrade.
Boaz High School Class of 2024 graduate, Kelly Juan Jaimes, is one of two recipients this year. Her mother works 2nd shift at the AlaTrade – Albertville plant. During her time at Boaz High, Kelly was very involved in her academics and extracurriculars. Jaimes was a member of the Boaz Concert and Marching Band, Arts Club, Spanish Club, and she participated in a Health Science Internship Program. A very distinguished young woman, Jaimes earned a spot on the National Honor Society, has a Nurses Aid Certificate, as well as CPR and AED certifications. Kelly intends to pursue Radiology and has been accepted to Gadsden State Community College to start her journey with higher education. There is no doubt that Kelly will continue to excel – she’s bilingual and currently works at Rehab Select, so she’s already become a valuable addition to the workforce.
In Phenix City, AlaTrade’s leadership team was proud to recognize Ms. Caronna Brooks as the recipient of the other $2,000 scholarship. Caronna is the daughter of Michelle Benning, an AlaTrade employee-owner that has been with the company for more than 17 years. Brooks will be utilizing the AlaTrade college scholarship to fund her education as she attends Brenau University in Gainesville, GA. Caronna intends to study Elementary Education.
We work together with our customers, employee-owners, and community so they can win. That is the AlaTrade mission statement. By investing in the education of our employee-owners’ children, we are not only supporting individual growth but also enhancing the prosperity of their families. We hope that funding these scholarships will foster a brighter future for our entire community. Congratulations to Kelly Juan Jaimes and Caronna Brooks, and we look forward to seeing all they will achieve.
Everyone at AlaTrade is excited about the future and the continuation of this annual scholarship. In the coming years, we will proudly watch as AlaTrade legacies graduate from college and begin their own careers. We eagerly cheer on their successes and hope that some of them will even join the AlaTrade team, bringing their talents and dedication back to where it all started.
AlaTrade is committed to supporting its employee-owners and their families. If you want to be part of a team that values education and community, apply here to become an employee-owner: https://www.alatrade.com/open-positions/