C1's Road Ahead Scholarship Recipient — Chad Gray
Meet Chad Gray
After serving the Indianapolis community for 30.5 years as a dedicated officer with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Chad Gray retired earlier this year, but he wasn’t ready to slow down.
“I loved the job, but 30.5 years was enough,” he says. Retirement opened the door for a chapter he’d always dreamed about.
Like many kids, Chad grew up obsessed with Tonka dump trucks. But for him, it stuck. “I always thought that when I retire, that would be my dream job,” he shares. A simple childhood memory became the spark for his post-retirement path.
Building a New Life in Southern Indiana
After retiring, Chad and his wife moved to Madison, Indiana, a nationally recognized Top 10 small town. They built a pole barn, put in a pool, and settled into a quieter area far different from Chad’s years on the force.
His wife, who also worked for IMPD, now serves the City of Madison. Their 23-year-old twins are thriving as college graduates setting out in their own respected careers. “The whole family has been very blessed,” Chad says.
Why C1 Truck Driver Training?
Even though he now lives several hours away, Chad knew exactly where he wanted to train. A friend connected him with Cheryl, who walked him through the next steps, but Chad had no idea a full-tuition CDL scholarship existed. Cheryl let him know that a CDL scholarship was available, but the deadline was quickly approaching. She encouraged him to submit an application anyway.
“I’ve never won anything in my life,” he laughs. But still, he applied. During the waiting period, Chad assumed he wasn’t selected — until the email arrived.
“It was a fabulous email. None of us have ever had a blessing like this. It was a huge surprise.”
“C1 is the school everyone goes to. It’s the biggest and most respected in Indiana.”
– Chad Gray
Preparing for a New CDL Career
Even before class starts, Chad has already taken major steps:
Tanker endorsement
Hazmat theory training completed
TSA background check for Hazmat
Local employers already interested
A Madison excavating company has a dump truck position lined up for him as soon as he earns his CDL. Another friend in the propane industry encouraged him to take on seasonal propane delivery; high-demand winter work with great earning potential.
“It just sounds like a really good life,” he says, and he’s earned it.
Chad’s vision for his next chapter is clear. He'll drive dump trucks locally in the Summer, propane with hazmat/tanker endorsements in the winter, and enjoy a a balanced, flexible post-retirement life year-round.
About the Scholarship
This scholarship represents a meaningful milestone for C1 and reinforces our commitment to helping students unlock opportunity through training, support, and access. We are incredibly proud to support Chad as he begins this exciting new journey. His service, dedication, and drive make him an outstanding representative of what this scholarship stands for.
