Mercury Air Cargo lead customer service representative Tonya Smock is the first recipient of the “Jeanie Schreider Educational Advancement Scholarship,” awarded annually by Mercury Air Group’s Chairman & CEO Joseph A. Czyzyk in memory of the late Jeanie Schreider, a 22 year Mercury employee who died of cancer in late 2012.

The scholarship is intended to recognize Schreider’s spirit and drive to always do more and learn more. She started as a shipping agent with Mercury and her last assignment was to oversee all of cargo’s legal contracting and TSA compliance efforts.

"I am especially pleased that Tonya won as she knew Jeanie. Tonya is enrolled full time in the Bachelor of Science in Health Administration program at the University of Phoenix, while also working for Mercury and raising her daughters," said Czyzyk, adding "She's an inspiration to all who know her and I am glad we can help her further her personal growth with this scholarship."

The $5,000 scholarship is awarded annually. Smock has been with Mercury for 18 years. In her application, Smock wrote: "By attending college I will gain an additional substantial amount of experience in various fields of work, gain additional increase in confidence and becoming overall more efficient and organized."