Praxair Inc. is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide. With more than 23,000 employees in 45 countries worldwide, the company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair is also the world's largest supplier of carbon dioxide and a recognized leader in the commercialization of new technologies that bring productivity and environmental benefits to a diverse group of industries.

Praxair Distrubution, Inc. is a member of the Praxair, Inc. family and has more than 4,000 employees in locations across the United States and Canada, serving more than 400,000 customers. Their products include industrial, medical and specialty gases, both in gaseous and liquid form, and related products and equipment.

Praxair's vision is to be the best performing industrial gases company in the world as determined by their customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers, and the communities in which they operate.

Praxair's values include: Customer Focus, Results Driven, Integrity, People Excellence, Safety and Environmental Awareness, and Increasing Shareholders' Wealth. Praxair's behaviors include: Globalization, which includes Teamwork, Personal Accountability, and Optimize Praxair; Externally Drive; Urgency of Action; and Winning-Making Money.

Purpose
The purpose for this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to those individuals demonstrating his/her leadership abilities, and interested in pursuing a career in welding engineering or welding engineering technology.

Eligibility
The Praxair International Scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student demonstrating leadership abilities and pursuing a minimum four-year bachelors degree in welding engineering (WE) or welding engineering technology (WET); however, priority will be give to welding engineering (WE) students. 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 be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 credit hours).
• Applicant must submit all required application information.
• Financial need is not a criteria in order to apply; however, it would be a primary consideration in prioritizing top candidates.
• Applicant must maintain a mimunum 2.5 overall grade point average in order to qualify.
• Applicant should have demonstrated leadership abilities through clubs, organizations, extra-curricular academic activities, community involvement, etc.
• Applicant must be a United States or Canadian citizen and plan to attend an academic institution within the United States or Canada.
• 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 $2,500 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.