Section-Named and District-Named Scholarships

Visit the AWS Find a Section Page to determine the District and Section in which you reside. 

Once you have determined your District, select your District below.

Click the link to visit the Section webpage.

Robert (Bob) A. Wunschel Central Mass-RI Section Scholarship

Boston Section (Seabury Waring) Scholarship

Walter Chojnacki and Albert J. Moore Jr.  Connecticut Section Scholarship

Perry, James and Salebra Scholarship (Green & White Mountains)

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Philadelphia Section Scholarship

Al and Pat Fleury Scholarship (New Jersey Section)

Long Island Section Scholarship 

New York Section Scholarship

District 2 Named Scholarships

AWISCO has been New York’s leading welding and industrial supplier for over 65 years. AWISCO has welding supply stores throughout New York, New Jersey and Stamford, Connecticut, and delivers industrial gas, specialty gas, and welding supplies to construction sites and machine shops.

This scholarship is for a student from New York or New Jersey in District 2 pursuing a welding-related associate or bachelor's degree.  Priority will be given to students from these technical and vocational schools.  Recipients may be eligible for a second-year award if they maintain a 3.0 GPA and remain in good standing.

Keen was founded in Wilmington Delaware in 1919 by Stanley Keen. Stanley started in a variety of businesses in the early years including food products and auto parts but finally settled into the welding supplies business in the 1930s and 1940s. In 1965 the business transitioned to the youngest of Stanley and Frances Keen’s 13 children as Merrill Keen became the company’s third president. Today, we are still family owned and operated with Merrill and Linda Keen’s three children Kim, Jon and Bryan leading the company.

Our company was founded on taking care of our employees, our customers and our community. "Keen Service Counts" and "Total Customer Satisfaction" are two slogans that have carried us through the years and still hold true today. In 2019 we will be celebrating 100 years in business. Our business has grown and evolved over the years but we believe maintaining our core values has been and will continue to be the biggest reason for our success.

Eligibility
This scholarship is available to students residing in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that attend Delaware Technical and Community College.

PSEG and its employees give back to the communities where they live and work through the PSEG Foundation.  The PSEG Foundation’s mission is to provide support for sustainable neighborhoods, safety and STEM education.  This scholarship is for welding students in AWS District 2.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

York-Lancaster Section Scholarships

• Lancaster Scholarship
• York Central-PA Scholarship
• Claudia Bottenfield Memorial Scholarship

Cumberland Valley Section - B.W. Bain and D.A. Nicholas Scholarship

Lehigh Valley Section - Dr. Robert D. Stout Scholarship

Reading Section Millennium Scholarship

Washington DC Section - Robert W. Worden, Jr. Memorial Scholarship
 

District 3 Named Scholarships

Shirley Bollinger received a Bachelor’s degree form York College in 1986 with a dual major in Marketing & Business Administration. It took Shirley 8 years of night school to fulfill her dream of a college degree. While pursuing her education at night, she also maintained a full-time job, and was the mother of 2 very active children.

Shirley was employed full time from 1977 to 2000 with ESAB Welding & Cutting Products in Hanover, PA. She was a very active member on the York-Central Section in York, PA where she served in many different capacities, eventually as Chairman from 1988-1989. Shirley served on the AWS Board as a District 3 Director from 1990 to 1997. Eventually, Shirley reached her goal as the first woman President of the American Welding Society from 1998 to 1999. With this scholarship, District 3 hopes to encourage and help students to further their education in welding and to keep Shirley's legacy of secondary education alive.

This scholarship is to pursue a minimum four-year Bachelor’s degree in welding engineering or welding engineering technology. 

This scholarship was funded by the former Baltimore Section for students in the Baltimore area. 

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Charlotte Section Scholarship

Tidewater Section Scholarship

Triangle Section Scholarship

District 4 Named Scholarships

Arc3 Gases is a multi-generation, family-owned and operated gas and welding supply company with 51 locations in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. Arc3 serves many industries ranging, from fabrication and manufacturing to research, health care, and food & beverage. 

The Arc3 Gases Scholarship is for a student in a welding program in AWS District 4, preferably from Virginia or North Carolina.

District 4 has additional scholarship funds for students attending school, or residing within the boundaries of District 4. 

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Wayne J. Engeron, Sr. Scholarship (Atlanta Section)

South Carolina Weld Strong Scholarship

North Central Florida Scholarship

South Florida Section Scholarships

• H.D. Riviere Scholarship
• David Pearl Sr. Scholarship

District 5 Named Scholarships

To honor Malcolm T. Gilliland, founder of Malcolm T. Gilliland, Inc., a manufacturer of automatic, semi-automatic and robotic welding systems.

Central Maintenance and Welding, Inc. was founded in 1966 by Hank Varnum and two other partners. Since that time, the Varnum family has owned the company and remained heavily involved in the day-to-day operations. Originally founded to serve Florida’s burgeoning phosphate industry, CMW has grown to also provide its specialized services to Florida’s power generation and other industries as well.

District 6 Named Scholarships

This scholarship is for a student residing within AWS District 6 attending or enrolled in the welding program at Arc+Flame / Monroe Community College (Monroe Corporate College) in Rochester, NY. Two $2,500 Scholarships will be awarded annually.  The deadline for this scholarship is May 1.

This scholarship is sponsored by the former AWS Allegheny Section to honor AWS Past President, Bill Myers.  

This scholarship fund is in memory of Tyler Hohman. Early on Tyler was unsure about his career path, but he was sure that he wanted to work with his hands. After many different jobs Tyler decided he would try welding. Arc+Flame Center was the perfect match for him and he was very excited when he had the opportunity to attend the Welding Program. The skills Tyler gained provided a solid foundation for his job at the Local 13 Plumber & Pipefitter union. This fund will provide an opportunity for young people to gain skilled trade training at the Rochester Arc+ Flame Center. We value the skilled trades and recognize the great careers and stability they provide. Tyler was so proud of his career and that it would allow him to take care of his family. With this fund, we would like to help provide that opportunity for others.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Columbus Section Scholarship

Dayton Section Scholarships

• Les Vesey - Dayton Section Scholarship
• Dayton Section Scholarship

Pittsburgh Section Scholarship

• David L. and Dolly McQuaid Scholarship
• Pittsburgh Section Scholarship

Tri-State Section Scholarships

• Carlisle Smith Scholarship
• Jeff Crocket Memorial Scholarship

District 7 Named Scholarships

This scholarship is sponsored by Bug-O Systems to honor Mr. Cable, and is for a student pursuing a certificate or degree in welding or a related field with an interest in welding automation or mechanization. The student must be full time with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have an interest in welding automation or mechanization.

Founded in November 2011, the Women of Gases & Welding (WGW) has a mission to enhance the success of women in the gases and welding industry through advocacy, recruitment, and professional development. Functioning as a committee within GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), WGW designs professional development programming for women at national conferences and engages sponsors to support programming and scholarships for women.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Chattanooga Section Scholarship

Greater Huntsville Section Scholarships

• Too Mitchell Memorial/NASA Friends & Family Scholarship
• Too Mitchell Memorial Scholarship
• Rayburn Johnson Scholarship
• Greater Hunstville Section Scholarship

Nashville Section Scholarship

District 8 Named Scholarships

This scholarship was created to honor Gary’s 57-year career with nexAir. Gary has held many roles at nexAir over the course of his career including: Purchasing Agent, Territory Manager, Sales Manager and Area Manager.  In his current role as Vice President of Advanced Welding Technologies, Gary has been a mentor and technical resource for end users and nexAir Territory Managers. Together with his team, he has been instrumental in training and promoting welding technologies while continuously looking for ways to improve processes. Gary’s career with nexAir has been impactful and instrumental in shaping the company’s success.

The purpose of this scholarship is to promote welding education to a qualified student pursing a degree or certificate in welding.  Priority is for a student at Moore Tech College of Technology in Memphis, Tennessee.

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, nexAir is the leading supplier of compressed gases and welding hard goods in the southeastern United States. Founded in 1940, nexAir sells, packages, and distributes atmospheric gases, including medical, specialty and industrial gases. nexAir also sells related products, including welding equipment, welding supplies, safety supplies and dry ice.

Dedicated to Jimmy Walker, Sr., founder of Saf-T-Cart in Clarksdale, MS, this scholarship is for a welding student in AWS District 8 with a preference for a student in welding at Coahoma Community College.

Founded in November 2011, the Women of Gases & Welding (WGW) has a mission to enhance the success of women in the gases and welding industry through advocacy, recruitment, and professional development. Functioning as a committee within GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), WGW designs professional development programming for women at national conferences and engages sponsors to support programming and scholarships for women.

Nancy Cole served as AWS President in 2013. Prior to forming her own company, NCC Engineering, Mrs. Cole was program manager and contract manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratories, where she was awarded three patents. At ABB Combustion Engineering, she developed welding electrodes, fluxes and flux-cored wires. She served as chair of the AWS Technical Activities Committee, Fellows Committee and C3 Brazing and Soldering Committee. She has received the AWS Honorary Member Award, the Dr. Rene Wasserman Award and the McKay-Helm Award and is an AWS Fellow.

This scholarships is for a female student pursuing a Certificate, Associates or Bachelors in a welding or related program. There is a preference for a student from the Northeast Tennessee Section.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Mobile Section Scholarships

• Ronald C. & Joyce Pierce Scholarship
• Mobile WESCO & Miller Electric Scholarship
• Paul "Jerry" Betts Memorial Scholarship
• Stephen F. Carlisle Scholarship
• William H. Harrison, Jr. Scholarship
• Eleanor Ezell Memorial Scholarship
• Leo Veal Scholarship

Baton Rouge Section Scholarships

• O.J. Templet Scholarship
• George & Glenda Fairbanks Scholarship
• Baton Rouge Section Scholarship

Acadiana Section Scholarships

• Charles Lewis Jr. - Acadiana Section Scholarship
• John Angers - Acadiana Section Scholarship
• Les Bertrand Scholarship

New Orleans Section Scholarships

• Shelton L. Ritter Section Scholarship
• Anthony J. DeMarco & Bruce Halilla Scholarship

Central Louisiana Section Scholarships

• HJ Greer Memorial Scholarship
• James A. Hayes Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Pascagoula Section Scholarship

District 9 Named Scholarships

This scholarship is for a welding student in AWS District 9 with a minimum GPA of 2.5, with priority for a student in the Birmingham Section.  Based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Atlas Welding Supply has served customers for more than 65 years. 

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Cleveland Section Scholarships

• Dr. John Gerken Scholarship
• Lowbrow Customs - Cleveland Section Scholarship

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Detroit Section Scholarships

• Detroit Section Scholarship
• Amos & Marilyn Winsand Scholarship
• Mardell D. Wilcox Scholarship
• Robert P. and Mardell D. Wilcox Scholarship

West Michigan Section Scholarships

• Aim High - Jerry Clay Scholarship
• West Michigan Scholarship #1
• Dietrich and Betty Roth Scholarship
• West Michigan Section Scholarship #2
• James Koster Scholarship
• RoMan Manufacturing Scholarship
• Apex Controls - Bernie TeBos Scholarship

Saginaw Valley Section Scholarship

Central Michigan Section Scholarship

Northwest Ohio Section Scholarship

• Rod Belden - OE Meyer Co. Scholarship

District 11 Named Scholarships

This scholarship is sponsored by the AWS Detroit Section in honor of Fred Ellicott.

This scholarship is sponsored by the AWS Detroit Section in honor of Dietrich Roth.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Madison-Beloit Section Scholarships

• Welders Supply Co. Scholarship
• Madison-Beloit Section Scholarship

Fox Valley Section Scholarship

Lakeshore Section - David J. Ramseur Scholarship

Milwaukee Section Scholarship

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Peoria Section - Marie & Walter Polanin Family Scholarship

Chicago Section Scholarships

• James E. Greer Scholarship
• Osceola Scholarship
• Chicago Section Scholarship

District 13 has additional scholarship funds for students attending school, or residing within the boundaries of District 13. 

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

St. Louis Section Scholarships 

• Garner Kimbrell Scholarship
• Pat Cody Memorial Scholarship
• Hil Bax Scholarship

Indiana Section Scholarships

• Bob Richwine - Indiana Section Scholarship
• Brant Family/Indiana Oxygen Scholarship

Tri-River Section - Sky Cylinder Testing Scholarship

Louisville Section - BAE Systems Scholarship

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Northwest Section Scholarships

• Mace Harris Scholarship
• Mike Hanson & Bob Sands Scholarship
• Production Engineering/Mike Albers Scholarship
• Nothwest Section Scholarship

Northern Plains Section Scholarship

District 15 Named Scholarship

These scholarships are sponsored by Lynnes Welding Training for students attending their school.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Iowa Section Scholarships

• David Landon Scholarship
• Charles F. Burg Scholarship
• Iowa Section Scholarships #1 and #2

Kansas City Section Scholarships

• Richard "Dick" Emmit Blaisdell Scholarship
• Roland Edward "Buck" Emmert Scholarship
• Brian "Bigfoot" McKee Welder Scholarship
• Your Local Kansas City Section Scholarship

Kansas Section 035 Scholarship

Nebraska Section - Monty Rodgers Scholarship

S.E. Nebraska Section - Pat Wagner Scholarship

District 16 Named Scholarships

This scholarship is named for District 16 Director Karl Fogleman.

This scholarship was established by the former AWS Central Nebraska Section.

This scholarship is named for Jesse and Valerie Grantham and has a preference for a student in the Oklahoma City Section.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Central Arkansas Section Scholarships

• John W. Bailey Memorial Scholarship
• Stephen E. Harrison Memorial Scholarship
• Thomas B. Schueck Memorial Scholarship

East Texas Section - Lonestar - Blackgold Scholarship

Ozark Section - James W. Gardner Scholarship

Oklahoma City Section Scholarship

Central Texas Section Scholarship

Tulsa Section Scholarship

North Texas Section - Timothy E. Hatten Memorial Certification Scholarship

District 17 Named Scholarship

Established in memory of Danielle Rivera, graduate of TSTC-Waco Welding Program. This scholarship will be awarded to a woman planning to attend a welding program with an emphasis on the hands-on practice of welding and metals joining. 

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Houston Section Scholarships

• Dennis K. & Robin Eck Scholarship
• Barney Burks Scholarship
• Ronald S. Theiss Scholarship
• Dr. Daryle Morgan Scholarship
• American Boiler Manufacturing Scholarship
• George Kampschafer Scholarship
• Ron VanArsdale Scholarship
• Houston Section Spirit of Welding Scholarship
• John R. Bray Scholarship

Morris Weeks Sabine Section Scholarship

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Alberta Section Scholarship

Willamette Valley Section Scholarships

• Don & Jean Cleveland Scholarship
• Willamette Valley Section Scholarship

Puget Sound Section - Chuck Daily Scholarship

Portland Section Scholarship

Delk, Goodrich, Weisman Alaska Section Scholarship

District 19 Named Scholarship

This scholarship is available to U.S. and Canadian citizens enrolled in a welding or welding-related education or training program within AWS District 19.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Colorado Section Scholarships

• Colorado Section Scholarship
• Vectis Automation Scholarship

Idaho/Montana Section Scholarships

• Dale & Marolyn Mortensen Scholarship
• Paul O'Leary Memorial Scholarship
• Idaho/Montana Section Scholarship

New Mexico Section Scholarships

• Bauman Industrial Labs Scholarship
• New Mexico Section #75 Scholarship #1 & #2

Southern Colorado Section - Jack Dammann Scholarship

Utah Section Scholarship

Wyoming Section Scholarship

District 20 Named Scholarships

Denis Clark is a welding engineer, “Ohio State MS-WE 1983” who spent his career in welding research at the Sandia and Idaho National Laboratories. He is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Welding Inspector. This annual award in honor of his family is meant for welding technical professionals completing four-year technical degrees contributing to the advancement of welding research and technology.

Dalton Van, recipient of the 2019 Miller® Weld-Mask™ Scholarship, passed away unexpectedly on June 13, 2020. Dalton was a talented welder with a passion for the trade. He attended Utah State University Eastern and earned a gold medal in the Utah SkillsUSA competition and took silver while representing Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) at Nationals.

To honor Dalton, his hard work, and his dedication to the welding trade, Miller and the American Welding Society (AWS) will award a $1,000 scholarship each year between 2021-2025 to a student at Uintah Basin Technical College (UBTech) to support their welding education, carrying Dalton’s legacy forward in the future of welding. To qualify, a student must be full-time in a minimum 900 HR Certificate Program course of study with at least a 2.5 overall GPA.

The Norco & Miller Electric Scholarship was established by Norco and the Miller Electric Mfg. Co for a student enrolled in a welding program in Utah or Idaho, with a preference for students attending UB Tech.

Founded in November 2011, the Women of Gases & Welding (WGW) has a mission to enhance the success of women in the gases and welding industry through advocacy, recruitment, and professional development. Functioning as a committee within GAWDA (Gases and Welding Distributors Association), WGW designs professional development programming for women at national conferences and engages sponsors to support programming and scholarships for women.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Los Angeles/Inland Empire Section Scholarships

• Gene Lawson and George Rolla Scholarship
• Los Angeles/Inland Empire Section Scholarship

Arizona Section Hall of Knowledge Scholarship

San Fernando Valley Section Scholarship

District 21 Named Scholarship

This scholarship is available to students who reside in and plan to attend an academic institution within District 21. The student must be attending a two year course of study that will result in at least an Associate degree, or certificate in welding.

Bob Doan, otherwise known as “The Wizard “ had a passion for his trade. He was a success out of St. James Trade School in Springfield, IL in the mid-1950’s. He was a father figure to many over the years and took every opportunity to mentor as a family man and businessman. His greatest passion was mentoring young welders. His legacy includes owning Flange Wizard for 40 years (a leader in welding equipment) and earned him the nickname of “the Wizard '' based on the fact he patented over fifty tools for the welding industry. Bob Doan was a larger than life personality. If you knew him, you knew this to be true.  At his core he lived the American dream, a man who came from a humble background, built a successful business but never lost sight of the important things in life: faith, family and friends. He was generous to a fault and downright unassuming and funny.

Click the links to visit the Section webpage. 

Sacramento Valley Section Scholarships

• Dale Flood - Sacramento Section Scholarship
• Tri Tool Inc.-Sacramento Valley Sectio Scholarship
• Sacramento District 22 Scholarship

Santa Clara Section - Lou Defreitas Scholarship

Central Valley Section Scholarship

San Francisco Section Scholarships

• San Francisco Section Scholarship

District 22 Named Scholarships

• Kerry Shatell Scholarship
• Randy Emery Scholarship