Four-Year College Scholarship
For High-School Seniors
$9,000 Need-based Scholarship, awarded $2,250 annually. $5,000 Merit-based scholarship, awarded $1,250 annually.
One-Year College Scholarship
For Current College Students or Trade School Applicants
$2,250 Need-based Scholarship and $1,250 Merit-based Scholarship.
Chairman’s Scholarship
For Career Candidates Entering Their Junior Year of College
$5,500 Merit-Based Scholarship, awarded $2,750 annually
This scholarship is available to students entering their junior year of college, actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an academic field related to promotional products and expressing an intent to enter the promotional products industry after graduation. The scholarship is renewable for the senior year of college, provided that the student meets the minimum GPA requirement and current employment in the promotional products industry is maintained by the student or parent. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of GPA, essay, resume, letter of recommendation and optional financial need.
Adult Learner Scholarship
Exclusively For Industry Employees Entering Their First Year of College or Trade School
$1,250 Merit-Based Scholarship
This scholarship is available exclusively to full-time promotional products industry employees entering their first year of college or trade school who have been removed from school for more than 5 years and do not have a recent GPA. Children of industry employees will not be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded based on an essay, resume, and letter of recommendation.
PPEF is an educational, charitable, nonprofit organization that awards college scholarships to students whose parents work in the promotional products industry or who work for a company in the industry. Since 1989, PPEF has awarded $3,668,500 in college scholarships to 1,958 students.
In 2025, PPEF will award $335,000 in college scholarships to 180 recipients, including 32 renewal recipients. In 2024, $321,500 was awarded in college scholarships. 32 recipients received renewal payments on scholarships awarded in previous years. 138 new scholarships were awarded: 10 Four-Year College Scholarships, 2 Chairman's Scholarships, and 126 One-Year College Scholarships, including the Named Scholarships listed below.
PPEF is proud to award the following Named Scholarships: Vincent J. Arena Scholarship, Stanley L. Breckenridge Scholarship, four Almand "Bo" Carroll Leadership Awards, Robert D. Davis Scholarship, Ted E. Dennison, MAS Scholarship, Jayne Emoff Miller Scholarship, Fran Ford Scholarship, Joseph Greenberg, CAS-First Impressions, Inc. of Houston Scholarship, Lorraine Hempen Scholarship, Glen Holt Scholarship, Helen and Al Mackler and Joseph Alexander Scholarship, George C. Matteson, Jr. Scholarship, Janelle Nevins Scholarship, NWPMA Success Scholarship, H. Ted Olson Scholarship, Lyndon "Lindy" Pearson Scholarship, PMANC Campbell M. Brown Memorial Scholarship, PPAChicago Scholarship, PPAMidwest Scholarship, PPAS Scholarship, Reciprocity Road Roadie Scholarship, Sam Rosenblum Scholarship, Bill Schmidt, Sr. Scholarship, David Lawrence Sharp Scholarship, Paul E. Smith Scholarship, The UMAPP Collegiate Scholarship, William F. "Bill" Vernon Scholarship, David Woods Family Scholarship and Roni S. Wright Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to outstanding students who meet all requirements for the One-Year Scholarships. Please complete the application for the Four-Year Scholarships (high school seniors) or One-Year Scholarships (current college students) to be considered for the Named Scholarships.
PPEF's scholarship awards are determined through a competitive application process, and the recipients are announced in early June each year.
General requirements for all college scholarships:
- Scholarships are available to full-time promotional products industry employees or their dependent children.
- Scholarships are available for undergraduate education only.
- Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.
- Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship if all requirements are met. Special note: The Four-Year College Scholarships will be awarded first. Applicants not receiving a Four-Year College Scholarship will be automatically considered for the One-Year College Scholarships and Named Scholarships so a separate application is not required.
- To be considered for the need-based scholarships, PPEF must receive a copy of the Student Aid Report that a student receives after filing the FAFSA.
- The application deadline is March 15 at 11:59 PM Central Time.
Please review the application forms for more specific guidelines and requirements.
Applications for the 2025-2026 school year closed on March 15, 2025. Recipients and non-recipients will be notified by June 9, 2025.