APA

ARIEF Scholarship Program

The Awards and Recognition Industry Educational Foundation (ARIEF) encourages all eligible undergraduate or trade school students to apply for one of 11 available scholarships offered annually.

These scholarships provide financial assistance to students pursuing higher education in any field. Recipients are selected by an ARIEF Scholarship Committee. This committee conducts blind reviews of candidate applications, letters of recommendation, and essays.

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

  • Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year will open in September, 2026.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in or entering an undergraduate college or trade school program for the 2027-2028 academic year. Graduate students are not eligible for ARIEF Scholarships.
  • Recipients will be selected by the ARIEF Board of Trustees based on the application materials provided.
  • All scholarship applicants will be notified of a decision on their application in February 2027.
  • Recipients will be announced at the International Personalization Expo on February 23-26, 2027.
  • Scholarship payments will be made directly to the recipient’s school of choice to be applied to tuition for the 2027-2028 academic year.
“I am extremely grateful for this scholarship! This industry has provided for me all of my life through my father’s business… and for that I am very thankful!”

Larissa Voss

Scholarship Recipient

2026 Scholarship Recipients

Cornerstone Donor Scholarships – $1,000 Awarded

George J. Waas Memorial Scholarship
Jay Fuhs,
Winning Imprints
Keego Harbor, MI

Estelle Funk Memorial Scholarship
Sophia Grzesiak,
QMI Group Inc,
Madison Heights, MI

JDS Industries Scholarship
Arlie Abraam,
GTX Awards, Engraving & Apparel
Georgetown, TX

Owen R. Siegel/RS Owens Memorial Scholarship
Tayla Morgan, Recognition Awards & More
Aviston, IL

Calvin E. Miller Memorial Scholarship
Olivia Dammer, IKONICS Imaging
Duluth, MN

Chairman Donor Scholarships – $1,000 Awarded

Peter V. Ilaria Memorial Scholarship
Alexandra Schrage, Harry’s Custom Trophies, Ltd.
Coralville, IA

Engraving Concepts—Roy Brewer, CRM, Educational Scholarship
Samantha Schrage, Harry’s Custom Trophies, Ltd.
Coralville, IA

IMIA Scholarship
Kendra Strickland, Johnny O’s Awards
Aberdeen, NC

Presidential Donor Scholarships – $500 Awarded

Award Associates’ Joe Rutherford Memorial Scholarship
Chloe Mattson,
The Creative Etch
Summerville, SC 

Recognition Roundtable Scholarship 
Matthew Altizer,
New River Engraving
Christianburg, VA

ARIEF Scholarship 
Joshua Gearing, Rowmark LLC
Findley, OH