The Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF), the industry’s nonprofit founded to recognize and encourage scholastic excellence and academic performance among promotional products industry employees and their college-aged children, today announced the 102 recipients of $150,000 in academic scholarships. Since it was founded in 1989, PPEF has awarded more than $1.56 million in financial assistance to 926 recipients.

PPEF is awarding 76 new and 26 renewal scholarships to selected recipients who have displayed remarkable academic achievement, extracurricular participation and community service. Each will be awarded between $1,000 and $8,000 to support their college educations.

“PPEF continues to award both merit and need-based scholarships with an increased emphasis on helping those with the most need. PPEF is now awarding two-thirds of its funding to students who qualify for financial need,” says PPEF Chair Pat Dugan, MAS, vice president of sales and marketing for Budgetcard, Inc. “The scholarships provide much-needed funds to cover the increasing costs of earning a college degree. Not only that, but the recipients also tell us how the scholarships boost their confidence by acknowledging their past successes and accomplishments. I want to thank PPEF’s donors for providing their generous and inspirational support to the next generation.”

Funded by Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) and generous donations from companies and individuals within the promotional products industry, the scholarship program enables youth and professionals to continue their education on a collegiate level. The Association and industry patrons have a long-standing commitment of service to the promotional products industry and this fund supports those who demonstrate the same commitment.

The full list of 2016 scholarship recipients is available here. Find out how to help support PPEF and its scholarship program here.