2009 AWI Education Foundation Scholarships Awarded

(L to R) Stephen Berta receives an AWIEF Scholarship presented by Assistant Professor William Geyer of the PA College of Technology while Rob Tobias, Berta’s teacher looks on.

The AWI Education Foundation (AWIEF) has announced that a total of $36,000 is being awarded for scholarships and wood industry support for 2009. “This is a historic event for AWIEF, the giving arm of AWI,” AWI Executive Vice President Philip Duvic said.

Under the leadership of Robert Stout, AWI Vice President and AWIEF President, a new pre qualification system was introduced to develop a pool of eligible candidates for the scholarships. “We inquired with a pre-selected number of schools that have wood industry programs and invited their instructors to nominate candidates for the scholarships. Among the students whose applications and transcripts we reviewed, we chose four honorees, who will each receive a $1,500 scholarship from the AWIEF,” Stout said.

Four 2009 Scholarship Winners and their schools are:

• Juan Aguilar – Fox Valley Technical College (Appleton, WI)

• Stephan Berta – Thaddeus Stevens College (Lancaster, PA)

• Kevin Bowman – Pittsburgh State University (Pittsburgh, KS)

• Brent Jenkins – Madison Area Technical College (Madison, WI)

In addition to the $6,000 in scholastic scholarships, AWIEF also awarded WoodLINKS with a $22,000 donation in support of its work toward promoting a stronger workforce for tomorrow. The AWIEF also bestowed the Tropical Forest Foundation (TFF) with a continuing AWI support

Brent Jenkins (L) of MATC receives the “2009 Southern Woodwork Association Scholarship”awarded by the AWIEF.

donation of $8,000. The TFF is dedicated to promoting tropical forest conservation and management through education and training programs within active tropical forest countries.

“We have waited a long time for the AWIEF’s establishment. With a mechanism in place, AWI members can now look forward to taking advantage of an avenue within AWI to make contributions for scholarships and support the industry as a whole. In the coming months, we look forward to the next phase of our work which includes informing our membership and chapters of new opportunities for making tax-deductible contributions. The scholarships were announced at the AWI Spring Professional Development Seminars and AWI Development Council on April 30. The AWIEF Board of Directors met on May 1 to begin mapping out a plan for soliciting donations for the Foundation’s scholarship fund.

Vision
To support education and training for careers in the architectural woodwork industry.

Goal No. 1
To grow industry shareholders by creating a renewing and viable workforce.

Goal No.2
To provide resources that foster educational opportunities

Goal No. 3
To maintain a respected and financially sustainable foundation providing a means for contribution, support and legacy.

2010 Scholarship Program Schedule

Oct 15- Nov 15 – Ebriefs awareness of 2010 scholarship program and solicit recommendations from AWI members on prospective schools for consideration via school profile page on AWI website AWIEF area.

Dec 1 – Compile list of proposed education institutions

Jan 15 – send nominee invitation letter to schools

March 1- Completed nominee applications due to AWIEF

April 1 – Selection complete

Spring Meeting – Announce scholarship winners

May 1 – Disburse Scholarship funds to winners

Coming soon – currently under construction

Board of Directors

Robert Stout, President
RLS Commercial Interiors, Inc.
Phone: 919.365.4086
  
Duane Griffiths, Vice President
Stiles Machinery, Inc.
Phone: 616.698.7500

Dave Nadolski, Treasurer
A.J. Pietsch Company
Phone: 414.342.0531

Philip Duvic, Secretary
AWI
Phone: 571.323.3636

William Geyer, Director
Penn College of Technology
Phone: 570.326.3761x7499

Mailing Address

AWI Education Foundation
46179 Westlake Drive, Suite 120
Potomac Falls, VA  20165
571-323-3636
www.awinet.org