The Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation encourages all eligible students to apply for one of 10 available scholarships offered annually. These scholarships provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in any field. Recipients are selected by a scholarship committee. This committee conducts blind reviews of candidate applications, letters of recommendation, and essays.

The scholarships are open to all APA member company employees, their children, or their grandchildren.

• Applications will be accepted from Wednesday, September 25th through Wednesday, December 18th.
• All applications need to be received by ARIEF on or prior to Wednesday, December 18th. Applications received after that date will not be considered.
• Applicants must be enrolled in or entering an undergraduate program for the 2025-2026 academic year. Graduate students are not eligible for ARIEF Scholarships.
• Recipients will be selected by the ARIEF trustees based on the application materials provided.
• All scholarship applicants will be notified of a decision on their application in February, 2025.
• Recipients will be announced at the International Personalization Expo on February 4-7, 2025.
• Scholarship payments will be made directly to the recipient’s school of choice to be applied to tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year.

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2025 Scholarship Recipients

Cornerstone Donor Scholarships - $1,000 Awarded

George J. Waas Memorial Scholarship
Anna Humphreys, Soaring Eagle Designs
Hesston, KS

Estelle Funk Memorial Scholarship
Kendra Strickland, Johnny O's Awards
Aberdeen, NC

JDS Industries Scholarship
Alexa Patey, Trophy Gallery
Lloydminster, CAN

Owen R. Siegel/RS Owens Memorial Scholarship
Dana Jones, IKONICS Imaging
Duluth, MN

Calvin E. Miller Memorial Scholarship
Addalade Campbell, A2Z Trophy
Gilbert, AZ

Chairman Donor Scholarships - $1,000 Awarded

Peter V. Ilaria Memorial Scholarship
Riley Guy, Cowart Awards, Inc
Greenville, SC

Engraving Concepts—Roy Brewer, CRM, Educational Scholarship
Sophie Powers, Engraving Awards & Gifts
Laconia, NH

Presidential Donor Scholarships - $500 Awarded

Award Associates' Joe Rutherford Memorial Scholarship
Maxwell Voeltner, Marco Awards Group
South Windsor, CT 

Recognition Roundtable Scholarship 
Avery Voeltner, Marco Awards Group
South Windsor, CT