The Foundation is on track to award a record $415,000 in support through its Foundation Scholarship Program this year.
PRESS RELEASE
Brookfield, WI — The Funeral Service Foundation awarded $140,500 in academic and professional development scholarships. Twenty-nine students earned academic scholarships ranging from $2,500-$5,000, and 20 professionals received the first-ever David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, the Foundation awards academic scholarships ranging from $2,500-$5,000 USD to students attending and actively engaged in coursework in funeral service education programs at ABSFE- and Canadian-accredited institutions. Awarded in two cycles and paid directly to institutions, the scholarships offset the costs associated with tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Applications will be accepted again this fall.
“A fulfilling career is rooted in a strong education,” said Foundation Chair Allan Cole. “When we help students of funeral service across the United States and Canada reach their educational goals, we strengthen the entire profession.”
Academic Scholarship Spring Class of 2022:
Bob Horn Scholarship | $5,000
- Edmonton, Alberta (Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta)
Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship | $5,000
- Bozeman, Montana (Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, Dallas, Texas)
Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship | $5,000
- Kelowna, British Columbia (British Columbia Funeral Association and Funeral Service Association of British Columbia, Winnipeg, British Columbia)
Foundation ’45 Scholarships | $5,000
- Plymouth, Indiana (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- West St. Paul, Manitoba (Canadian College of Funeral Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- , Norman, Oklahoma (University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma)
- Akron, Ohio (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Ames, Oklahoma (University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, Oklahoma)
- Greenville, South Carolina (Piedmont Technical College, Greenwood, South Carolina)
- Yerington, Nevada (American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service Education, New York, New York)
Foundation ’45 Scholarships | $2,500
- Sevin Antley, Minneapolis, Minnesota (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Sheri Arndt, Lethbridge, Alberta (Canadian College of Funeral Service, Winnipeg, Manitoba)
- Jesenia Cabrera, Springfield, Massachusetts (Goodwin University, East Hartford, Connecticut)
- Kamieka Corbett, Circle Pines, Minnesota (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
- Amy Fletcher, Seymour, Indiana (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- Adam Gonzalez, Oak Lawn, Illinois (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- Cheryl Guertin, Waterbury, Connecticut (Goodwin University, East Hartford, Connecticut)
- Nicole Heald, Rock Island, Illinois (Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg, Illinois)
- Izzy Jackson-Rhoades, Lafayette, Indiana (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- Jessica Kent, Lombard, Illinois (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- Jason Lundquist, Clifton, Texas (Northeast Texas Community College, Mount Pleasant, Texas)
- Brett Peterson, West Fargo, North Dakota (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Shirley Rankine, Irving, Texas (Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, Dallas, Texas)
- Natalie Schwinkendorf, Laporte, Indiana (Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Wheeling, Illinois)
- Molly Smith, Coldwater, Michigan (Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Michigan)
- Amy Webb, Wichita, Kansas (Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, Iowa)
Memorial Classic Scholarship | $2,500
- Brady Brockhaus, Creighton, Nebraska (Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Houston, Texas)
Shipley Rose Buckner Memorial Scholarship | $2,500
- Rachel Smith, Wilmington, North Carolina (Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville, North Carolina)
Steve Lang Scholarship | $2,500
- Aaron Pauls, Manhattan, Kansas (Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, Houston, Texas)
Passion and Gratitude
“Receiving the Funeral Service Foundation scholarship confirms that others believe in my ability as much as I do to have a successful career in the field that I am most passionate about. Going forward, I can stress less about funding and remain focused on the most important aspect of school: learning.”
– Rebekah Bowe
“This scholarship is not just financially helpful. It is further validation that I am entering the right field and being supported as I am pursuing it. This scholarship will enable me to continue and succeed in my studies, as well as benefit families and my community. I am grateful.”
– Cheryl Guertin
“Thank you! I’ve found so much purpose in funeral service. This is an incredible opportunity to continue my passion by serving others.”
– Jason Lundquist
“Receiving this award means more to me than just a financial gift. It showed me the immense support from those in the industry. I am honored to be chosen for an award that embodies the long-standing values of caring and compassion displayed by those within the funeral service industry.”
– Brett Peterson
“I am grateful to the Funeral Service Foundation. The scholarship is a tremendous help with college tuition. Upon graduation, I will help my community with funeral services that are embellished with compassion. In turn, many families will benefit from your generous donation. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.”
– Shirley Rankine
View photos of all the academic scholarship winners.
DAVID C. BAUE NFDA PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
Twenty 20 female and non-binary funeral service professionals and students received the first-ever David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships to attend the annual conference, held April 29-May 1 in Miami. Each all-inclusive scholarship covered registration fees, hotel stay and a generous travel stipend.
“My father understood the value of continuing education,” said Foundation Chair-elect Lisa Baue. “The Baue family was proud to offer scholarships in David’s memory to 20 remarkable funeral service professionals, whose commitment to funeral service and the families they serve elevates the entire profession.”
Over the next five years, 100 David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarships—20 per year—will be awarded to female and non-binary funeral service professionals and students to attend the premier conference.
2022 David C. Baue NFDA Professional Women’s Conference Scholarship Recipients:
- Katie Anthony-Clapp, Anthony Funeral Homes, Akron, Ohio
- Alison Brettnacher, Baue Funeral Home, St. Charles, Missouri
- Lauren Budrow, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
- Shaiyla Hakeem, L.E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home, Youngstown, Ohio
- Karla Henderson, Giddens Memorial Chapel, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Amaya Hendrick, March Funeral Home, Richmond, Virginia
- Katey Houston, Return Home, Auburn, Washington
- Nikima Jolly, It is Well Funeral Concierge, Fairburn, Georgia
- Megan Konrady, Geisen-Carlisle Funeral Home, Michigan City, Indiana
- Nicolette Maimone, Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Linda McAulay, Scott McAulay Family New Options Funeral Service, Fullerton, California
- Melissa Mina, Springfield Funeral Home, Kelowna, British Columbia
- Bethany Moscalink, Paul G. Fink Funeral Home, Inc., Connellsville, Pennsylvania
- Kaitlynn Schrader, Roberts of Ocala Funerals and Cremations, Ocala, Florida
- Megan Thulien, Zacherl Funeral Home, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
- Monica Torres, NXT Generation Mortuary Support, Phoenix, Arizona
- Allison Voorhess, Wm. Sullivan and Son Funeral Directors, Royal Oak, Michigan
- Laura Wagner, Highlands Family-Owned Funeral Home, Louisville, Kentucky
- Crystal Webster, Sharing Solace, Olathe, Kansas
- Kimberly Worl, Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, Garden Grove, California
Passion and Gratitude
“This conference brought so much good out of me. The camaraderie, the energy, and the relationships I built left me so inspired. I am anxious to get home and get back to work doing what we’re here to do. I’m grateful to the Foundation and the Baue Family for the experience.”
– Crystal Webster
“The conference left me so energized. I was honored to meet women in all walks of funeral service. It was inspiring to see women in positions of leadership and ownership. They are who I aspire to be, and I’m grateful to the Funeral Service Foundation for the opportunity.”
-Allison Voohrees
NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS TO THE NFDMA 2022 ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXPOSITION
Thanks to generous donors, the Funeral Service Foundation is offering 10 scholarships to the NFDMA 2022 Annual Convention & Exposition in New Orleans. Valued at $2,200, scholarships cover full convention registration fees, three nights of lodging, and up to $500 in travel reimbursement. Open to licensed funeral directors, morticians, embalmers, and students of funeral service. Applications open now. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 14. Winners will be announced on July 1.
ABOUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION – FUNERALSERVICEFOUNDATION.ORG
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders profession-wide support the Foundation in its mission of investing in people and programs to strengthen funeral service and lift up grieving communities.