Pi Chi Omega, the national fraternity for pest control professionals, has been awarding scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in urban and industrial pest management since 1976. To date, more than $200,000 in scholarship support has been provided to 135 students. Many of the students that have enjoyed Pi Chi Omega scholarships have become Industry icons, like Bobby Corrigan who was the very first recipient.
The purpose of the scholarships is to bring young scientifically focused people into our Industry, and it has worked! The impact of the students supported by Pi chi Omega over these 43 years has flooded our Industry with knowledge and passion that have made a lasting impact on how our Industry addresses the challenges of pest management. Just as the Scholarship Committee was beginning to contemplate if we should increase the number and size of our scholarships in order to make an even greater impact, a wave of new funding came rolling in.
The first wave of support came through an anonymous donation in the amount of $20,000 in memory of Norm Ehmann. Norm was a leader in the pest control industry, educating the service and sales forces of pest control businesses by designing and implementing a national education program. This donation enabled Pi Chi Omega to add an additional $2,000 scholarship to the 2020 program. At this time, the Norm Ehmann Scholarship will be awarded for 10 years, however if an additional $30,000 in funds are raised the scholarship will be made perpetual. Major plans are already in the works to accomplish that.
The second wave of funding that rolled in was a $6,000 donation from the Orkin Franchise Owners Association Inc. (OFOA), honoring Dr. Austin Frishman. During its annual meeting in Boca Raton, the Association held a fund raiser in honor of Dr Austin Frishman that would support the ongoing efforts of Pi Chi Omega’s Scholarship Fund. OFOA members recognize the lasting impact Doc Frishman has had on the Industry and the need for ongoing research, development and training that will come from the next generation of industry professionals following in his footsteps. The fund raiser was made possible by the generous support of the members of OFOA, and it’s loyal and dedicated suppliers.
President, Todd Sawyer noted that, “Doc has been a part of all of our learning and growth. Through his lifelong dedication, he has made an impact on every PMP whether they’ve known him for 30 plus years as I have or have never met him in person. The Pi Chi Omega scholarship fund is a clear path towards generating the next industry legends.”
Pi Chi Omega currently awards a perpetual Austin Frishman Scholarship annually in the amount of $2,000. The funds donated by OFOA will help Pi Chi Omega meet the yearly financial commitment to fund $11,000 in scholarships.
The 2020 Pi Chi Omega Scholarship program has been launched and will now award 5 individual scholarships. In addition to the two scholarships mentioned above, Pi Chi Omega will also award the John Osmun Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 and the Founders Endowment and the Alain VanRyckeghem Memorial Scholarships in the amount of $2,000. All currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate college students who are engaged in the study of urban or industrial pest management and are interested in pursuing this field as a career are encouraged to submit an application by March 1st. Visit pichiomega.org and search under the scholarship tab for more information.
If you are interested in continuing the wave of contributions Pi Chi Omega has enjoyed, simply click the yellow Scholarship Donations button on the homepage of pichiomega.org, or click here to make an online donation. If you are interested in making a major contribution that would help us raise the funds needed to make the Norm Ehmann scholarship perpetual or to the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship Program in general, please call us at 540-376-3617. Please note, that while Pi Chi Omega is a non-profit organization, we are not a charity and donations are not deductible on an individual tax return.