Scholarships

Scholarships

The American Welding Society Foundation awards over $2 million annually for education and training in welding and related fields!

Students in the Lehigh Valley Section may be eligible for the following scholarships:

National, District, and Section Scholarships – Deadline March 1st for the following fall term

National Scholarships
For students pursuing a specific degree at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Scholarships range from $3,000 – $5,000+.

District Scholarships
A minimum of $15,000 is available in each of AWS’s 22 Districts for students pursuing a degree or certificate in a welding or welding-related program. Scholarships typically range from $1,000 to $2,500+.

Section and District Named Scholarships

Lehigh Valley Section Professor Robert D. Stout Scholarship

Introduction
The Lehigh Valley Section of AWS has long been a leader in introducing young people to careers in welding and in support of technical programs that will help them succeed. Dr. Robert D. Stout, Emeritus Professor of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Lehigh University, has been a leading figure in the welding world. His distinguished career spends nearly 70 years and includes both faculty and administrative positions at Lehigh University, committee participation at AWS, many AWS awards, and even serving as AWS President in 1972. He and his students have published over 140 technical articles in the field of welding and welding metallurgy.

Purpose
The purpose of this scholarship is to honor the distinguished career of Prof. Robert D. Stout, his many technical contributions to the welding field, and his service to the welding community and AWS.

Eligibility
The purpose of the scholarship award is to provide financial support to students to pursue education in the field of welding or related field after high school. The Robert D. Stout scholarship will be eligible to students who meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Applicant must be a member of the American Welding Society.
  2. Applicant must be at least a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and scholarship funds must be used for educational pursuits beyond the high school level. Extracurricular activities will be carefully considered in the final selection.
  3. Student does not need to be enrolled full time, and financial need is not considered.
  4. Applicant must be a citizen of the United States and live within the AWS Lehigh Valley Section (scholarship funds can be applied to a school located out of the Lehigh Valley Section).
  5. Applicants may reapply each year. Applicants who have received this award may reapply and may be granted the award for a maximum of 2 years.

Shirley Bollinger – District 3 Scholarship

Shirley Bollinger received a Bachelors Degree from 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. Shirley started as a customer representative for ESAB and ultimately reached the goal of Marketing & Product Control Manager. She was a very active member of 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. Shirley was an advocate for Education in all senses of the word, which included getting to know students in District 3 and to meet students all over the world during her travels as AWS President. 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.

District 3 Named Scholarship

Welder Training Scholarship
For students seeking welder training in a certificate program less than two years in length through a trade school, community college, or other facility providing welder training. Each District has a minimum of 25 – $1,000 scholarships to award.

Applications are accepted January-November and selections are made on a rolling basis until the District awards the designated funds for the year.

Apply for AWS Foundation Scholarships at scholarship.aws.org