Moore Norman Technology Center Auto Service Technology student Josue Martinez was awarded the Walt Morris Memorial Scholarship. The Walt Morris Memorial Scholarship awards a $500 scholarship intended for graduating high school seniors and is to be used for tools, supplies or equipment needed to support a student's success in their career field.

Criteria for earning the scholarship are maintaining a high-grade point average, having good attendance in their program, be a graduating high school senior and writing an essay about future career goals. A scholarship panel reviews applications, interviews applicants and the scholarship is presented before the end of the spring semester.

Walter “Walt” Morris was the CEO and founder of Morris Latex Products Inc. located in Noble, OK. Walt lived in south Oklahoma City where he became a supporter of the then Oklahoma Vo-Tech system. His family said that as a businessman, he understood the value of hard work, along with learning the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. 

"Josue Martinez has natural problem solving and critical thinking skills that you just can’t teach. Automotive diagnostics is sometimes like a puzzle and Josue has the ability to piece that puzzle together. His maturity, his dedication, his work ethic, and his passion he has for automotive stood out to us the instructors. Josue has the opportunity to become a master-level technician early in his career with the training he received here at MNTC and the training he will receive in the GM ASEP program at OCCC. Josue set goals for himself when he came here to MNTC. When he filled out his Career Tree, he said that he wanted to become a dealership technician. Not only did Josue achieve his goals, but he surpassed them. Josue will be working as a dealership technician at Bob Moore Cadillac of Norman. He also obtained his entry-level ASE Certification in Automotive Electrical. We are so proud of Josue and can’t wait to watch his journey in the automotive industry," stated MNTC Automotive Service Technology instructor Brian O'Leary. 

Bonnie Morris, wife of Walt Morris, and her two sons Tim Morris and David Morris presented the award to Martinez during his class time. Martinez's name was added to a large plaque and he was presented with the $500 scholarship check.

Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) Dean of Business and Information Technology Division John Claybon and Director of Automotive Technology Brad Walker also presented an OCCC Automotive Technology Scholarship to Martinez for $500.

Martinez is employed at Bob Moore Cadillac of Norman and looks forward to attending Oklahoma City Community College where he will focus on GM ASEP training. 

Learn more about Walter Morris and the Walt Morris Memorial Scholarship.