Victoria Wheeler

The Material Handling Industry Association's education arm has awarded USD87,000 in scholarships to 31 students at 20 US universities.

The Material Handling Education Foundation Inc's (MHEFI) scholarship selection committee, made up of MHIA members, materials handling end users and trade press selected students based on specific criteria, MHEFI executive director Victoria Wheeler said.

"A student must be at least a rising junior at a 'pre-qualified' institution. This student must have demonstrated an interest in entering the material handling logistics field and maintain a grade point average of at least 3.00," Wheeler said.

The Robert R. Reisinger honour scholarship, worth USD6,000, went to Jennifer McClelland, from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

McClelland majored in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering and had a grade point average of 3.967 (of a potential 4.0). She was a member of Pi Beta Phi, the Missouri Engineering Student Council, and the Society of Women Engineers and co-chair of a literacy program for children.

Paul Lynch and Joseph Wilck, from Pennsylvania State University, won Spanco Inc honour scholarships, worth USD5,000 each. Todd Alberts, from Indiana State University, and Daniel Navaresse, from Oklahoma State University, also won USD5,000 scholarships. The remaining scholars were awarded scholarships ranging from USD1,500 to USD4,000.

Since 1976, MHEFI has awarded more than 500 scholarships totalling more than USD1.4 million, funded through private and corporate donations, to students pursuing a materials handling education.

MHEFI sponsors student attendance at industry conferences and seminars related to materials handling research, and funds lab materials and classroom instructional aids for universities and research fellowships.

Students who apply for MHEFI scholarships must be enrolled in universities approved by the College & Industry Council on Material Handling Education as having a curriculum dedicated to the materials handling logistics field.

The students enrol in industrial or systems engineering, structural, electrical or civil engineering, computer sciences, or transport and distribution sciences.

"MHEF wishes to be at the forefront of providing the leaders and inventors of the future," Wheeler said.