The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) recently awarded its 2022 scholarships to deserving students who are studying subjects that can lead to a career in powder coating. “The Powder Coating Institute is addressing the labor shortage and rising cost of higher education head on by continuing to expand the reach and impact of our scholarship program,” states PCI Scholarship Subcommittee chair Teddy Piepkow. “PCI’s member companies have nearly doubled the amount of annual giving to our scholarship program since 2019, with contributions in excess of $45,000 for the 2022-23 academic year.”

PCI manages the scholarship program, which solicits applications from students from educational institutions throughout the country. PCI member companies also provide support to the scholarship program through corporate sponsorships. The corporate sponsors benefit by being involved in the selection process and investing in potential personnel from the pool of candidates. With continued support from corporate donors, the scholarship program reaches a broad range of students and guides them into careers in the powder coating industry.

The scholarship program continues to grow and promote the powder coating industry to the younger generations, which include students pursuing degrees in polymer science, manufacturing, engineering, business management, and marketing. Piepkow adds, “The quality of qualified applicants this year was outstanding, and PCI is excited to watch the career paths of these exceptional students.”

The 2022 PCI Scholarship Program awarded $45,000 in total, which includes donations of $5,000 from each of our seven corporate donors: Axalta Coating Systems, Gema USA Inc., Henkel Corporation, IFS Coatings, Nordson Corporation, PPG and Sun Polymers. The growth of the scholarship program enhances the potential of young scholars in the industry and PCI is proud to be a part of it.  PCI is grateful to our corporate donors who have helped increase the number of awards given.

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded scholarships this year.

PCI CORPORATE NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS
PCI/Axalta Scholarship
Scott Andreae, University of Wisconsin – Stout

PCI/Gema Scholarship
John Frantz, Butler University and Purdue School of Engineering & Technology

PCI/Henkel Corporation
Daniel Knecht, University of Cincinnati

PCI/IFS Coatings Scholarship
Joseph Dahlgren, North Dakota State University

PCI/Nordson Ken Kreeger Scholarship
Chloe Yeagley, University of Cincinnati

PCI/PPG Scholarship
Tyler Kleinsasser, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

PCI/Sun Polymers Scholarship
Kyle Hoff, California Polytechnic State University

PCI GENERAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Hyunseok Kim, Purdue University
Adam Mistretta, Clemson University


Visit the PCI website, www.powdercoating.org/scholarship, for more information and the application process for future scholarship opportunities.