Chairmans College Scholarship

PPEF is an educational, charitable, nonprofit organization that awards college scholarships to students whose parents work in the promotional products industry or who work for a company in the industry. Since 1989, PPEF has awarded $4,003,500 in college scholarships to 2,138 students. In 2025, PPEF awarded $335,000 in college scholarships to 180 recipients, including 32 renewal recipients.

Four-Year College Scholarship

For High-School Seniors

• $9,000 Need-based Scholarship, awarded $2,250 annually.
• $5,000 Merit-based scholarship, awarded $1,250 annually.

Apply today through March 15, 2026.

One-Year College Scholarship

For Current College Students or Trade School Applicants

$2,250 Need-based Scholarship and $1,250 Merit-based Scholarship.

Apply today through March 15, 2026.

Chairman’s Scholarship

• For Career Candidates Entering Their Junior Year of College
• $5,500 Merit-Based Scholarship, awarded $2,750 annually

This scholarship is available to students entering their junior year of college, actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree in an academic field related to promotional products and expressing an intent to enter the promotional products industry after graduation. The scholarship is renewable for the senior year of college, provided that the student meets the minimum GPA requirement and current employment in the promotional products industry is maintained by the student or parent. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of GPA, essay, resume, letter of recommendation and optional financial need.

Apply today through March 15, 2026.

Adult Learner Scholarship

• Exclusively For Industry Employees Entering Their First Year of College or Trade School
• $1,250 Merit-Based Scholarship

This scholarship is available exclusively to full-time promotional products industry employees entering their first year of college or trade school who have been removed from school for more than 5 years and do not have a recent GPA. Children of industry employees will not be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded based on an essay, a resume, and a letter of recommendation.

Apply today through March 15, 2026.

PPEF's scholarship awards are determined through a competitive application process, and the recipients are announced in early June each year.

General requirements for all college scholarships:

• Scholarships are available to full-time promotional products industry employees or their dependent children.
• Scholarships are available for undergraduate education only.
• Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to apply.
• Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship if all requirements are met. Special note: The Four-Year College Scholarships will be awarded first. Applicants not receiving a Four-Year College Scholarship will be automatically considered for the One-Year College and Named Scholarships, so a separate application is not required.
• To be considered for the need-based scholarships, PPEF must receive a copy of a student's Student Aid Report after filing the FAFSA.
• The application deadline is March 15 at 11:59 PM Central Time.

Please review the application forms for more specific guidelines and requirements.

Applications for the 2025-2026 school year closed on March 15, 2025. Recipients and non-recipients will be notified by June 9, 2025.