Bill, at the age of 20, took a basis course at The Lincoln Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio from 1953 to 1954. In April of 1954, Bill began work at Canton Drop Forge Plant #1 as a welder in the extrusion department. He worked there until 1964. At that time, he took a sales job with Premier Industrial Corp. selling specialty-welding rods. In 1966, Bill started Buckeye Corporation in Canton, Ohio. The Company served as a distributor for NCG-Chemetron. In 1973, Bill purchased Mansfield Oxygen Corp. from Mr. and Mrs. E. O. Delp. Here he developed the company with bulk liquid deliveries and built an acetylene plant in 1982. In 1990, his wife, Ann, a retired RN with Aultman Hospital, joined the business handling all the regularity requirements required for the distributors. On August 1, 2001, Bill and Ann sold Buckeye Corporation and Mansfield Oxygen Corp. to Valley National Gases.

Purpose
The purpose for this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to those individuals interested in pursuing a career in welding.

Eligibility
The William A. and Ann M. Brothers Scholarship will be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student pursuing a minimum four-year degree in a welding or welding related program at an accredited university. All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements.

• Applicant must be a minimum of eighteen years of age.
• Applicant must have a minimum high school diploma.
• Applicant must have a minimum 2.5 overall grade point average.
• Student must be enrolled full-time.
• Proof of financial need is required to qualify.
• Applicant must submit all required application information.
• Applicant must be a citizen of the United States and plan to attend an academic institution located within the United States.
• Priority will be given to those individuals residing or attending schools in the states of Ohio. (A resident is defined as having lived in the specific area for a minimum of one year.)
• Applicants may reapply; however, persons who have received this award may reapply and may be granted the award for a maximum of four years.

The award will be presented to individuals nationwide. Applicant does not have to be a member of the American Welding Society.

The AWS Foundation does not discriminate by age, race, color, national origin, disability, creed, or gender.

Selection
Applicant will be chosen by the Named Scholarship Selection Committee comprised of five (5) members, which have been selected by the National Educational Scholarship Committee.

Selection committee will determine award recipient in February of each year. Recipient will be announced at the National Awards Luncheon.

Awards
One $3,500 award will be given annually.

No awards will be paid to the recipient. All awards are for tuition and books only, and will be paid directly to the academic institution by the AWS Foundation.

Deadline
Deadline for application is February 15, for the following Fall Term.