The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) is now accepting applications for its 2025 Scholarship Program. Designed to assist students studying in subject areas that can lead to a career in powder coating, the program awards funds in conjunction with member companies that donate a minimum of $5,000 toward a corporate-named scholarship.
“The Powder Coating Institute is thrilled to kick off the new year with the announcement of our 2025 Scholarship Program,” said Teddy Piepkow, PCI Scholarship Subcommittee chairman. “PCI understands that the leaders of tomorrow must be engaged through a wide range of channels.”
Each year since its inception, the number of applicants and scholarship money awarded through the scholarship program has grown thanks to PCI member support. “PCI introduced our innovative scholarship program in 2016,” said Piepkow. “Since the program’s inception, PCI has impacted over 50 students and awarded $225,000, directly reducing the cost of higher education. The PCI Scholarship Subcommittee reviews every application personally. Our goal is to engage and build relationships with exceptional young people that are considering the powder coating industry as a full-time pursuit after graduation.”
This year, the program will distribute funds from the PCI General Scholarship, as well as eight corporate-named scholarships: the PCI/Axalta Scholarship, the PCI/Gema Scholarship, the PCI/IFS Coatings Scholarship, the PCI/Nordson Ken Kreeger Scholarship, the PCI/PPG Scholarship, the PCI/Sun Polymer Scholarship, the PCI/TCI Powder Coatings Scholarship, and the PCI/Therma-Tron-X, Inc. Scholarship.
Candidates must complete the online application and submit supporting documents by March 15, 2025. Interested applicants should go to https://www.powdercoating.org/ScholarshipApp to submit the required information. Scholarship recipients will be asked to provide one brief follow-up summary of educational experiences during the 2025-2026 academic year.
The PCI Scholarship Subcommittee reviews applications and awards scholarships based on a set of criteria, established and approved by the PCI board of directors, including specific studies and projects related to powder coating, future goals and career objectives, unique qualifications/goals/aspirations, letter of recommendation, and grade point average. Representatives from Axalta Coating Systems, Gema USA, IFS Coatings, Nordson Corporation, Sun Polymers, PPG, TCI Powder Coatings, and Therma-Tron-X, Inc., will be a part of the selection process for each of their respective scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded in May and recipients will be notified by the PCI Executive Director.
To see previous scholarship award winners and learn more about the program, visit www.powdercoating.org/scholarship.
About PCI
Formed on May 1, 1981 as a non-profit organization, PCI represents the powder coating industry, promotes powder coating technology and communicates the benefits of powder coating to manufacturers, consumers, and government. PCI works to advance the utilization of powder coating as an economical, non-polluting and high-quality finish for industrial and consumer products.