Pi Chi Omega (PCO), the national fraternity for pest control professionals, awards $9,000 in scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students pursuing degrees in urban and industrial pest management. Currently, two of the four annual scholarships pay tribute to our early founders and industry leaders; the Founders Endowment Scholarship and the John Osmun Scholarship. PCO members, at their annual meeting on October 24th, voted to name a third scholarship – the Austin Frishman scholarship – to honor him for his vast contributions to the pest management industry. It is only fitting that a Pi Chi Omega scholarship be awarded in perpetuity in his name since he has had a tremendous impact on not just our industry through his own work, but through each of the students he has nurtured and mentored.
In just over a month, more than $6,000 has been raised to support PCO scholarships in Dr. Frishman’s name. This pushed the contribution total over the original threshold of $20,000 needed to name 5 scholarships for Dr. Frishman.
“It is clear that Pi Chi Omega members hold Austin Frishman in high esteem as evidenced by this surge in contributions in his name,” said Stephanie Hill, Chair of the PCO Scholarship Committee, and newly elected Director on the PCO Board.
“We saw the proposal to create the Frishman named scholarship as a timely directive by the members,” continued Hill, “to celebrate the life and expertise of Austin Frishman.”
The matter was voted on by members present at the meeting, and the motion carried unanimously. Moving forward, Pi Chi Omega will award an annual scholarship in the amount of $2,000 in the name of Dr. Austin Frishman. Thank you Dr. Frishman for all you have done and continue to do for our industry.