Scholarships
WIFI scholarships provide funds for members to attend industry related seminars, workshops and conventions.
THORS eLearning Solutions
Joanne Sherman E-Learning Scholarship
Submission Deadline: September 6th, 2024
WIFI honors the memory of Joanne Goodman Sherman, co-owner of Industrial Rivet and Fastener. She began her career part-time in high school and ultimately grew to oversee the entire administrative and operational areas of the 100+ year old business. She was responsible for managing the company’s many brands and copyrights – including the RivetKing® brand – while continuing to offer her rivet and fastener expertise to long-term accounts across the country, and around the world.
Joanne took professional development and continuing education seriously. She was an award-winning member of the NAPW (National Association of Professional Women) and active in Vistage International – a peer-mentoring group for business owners. She believed in the power of education and would have been proud to sponsor women in the fastener industry: who are interested in furthering their fastener education through this channel of E-Learning courses.
Scholarship application submission will fully cover course fees for WIFI Members requesting financial assistance to complete an online course through THORS eLearning Solutions - Online Training Specifically for Manufacturing and the Fastener Industry. THORS will provide courses specifically designed to your industry needs.
Fastener Fair
Margaret Davis
Scholarship
Submission deadline: March 22nd, 2024
WIFI honors the memory of Margaret Davis of ISSCO, INC/BTM Manufacturing with a new scholarship for 2020, which Fastener Fair USA has graciously provided. Some of the best women have led the way for all women in the fastener industry and Margaret is one of these amazing ladies. Margaret started her career in the fastener industry at Kansas City Nut & Bolt back in the 1960’s, where she also met her future husband, Joe L. Davis Jr. Together they started ISSCO, INC., a wholesale fastener distributor on April 1, 1974, where Margaret served as Secretary-Treasurer for over 26 years. She was certainly the matriarch of the family business, and truly enjoyed working with her husband and two sons, David and Jake Davis. As ISSCO begins to celebrate its 46th year in business, we know we would not be the company we are today without the leadership of Margaret.
Scholarship application submission will offer WIFI Members requesting financial assistance to attend Fastener Fair USA. Travel, accommodations and entrance to the show will be provided. The recipient is required to work at the WIFI show booth.
Fastener Training Institute
Ann Bisgyer Wolz Scholarship
Submission deadline: June 14th, 2024
WIFI honors the memory of Ann Bisgyer Wolz, co-publisher of Fastener Industry News. She first worked in the fastener industry during high school for her stepfather, Eric Cohn, at Allied International. She later entered the trade show industry in New York City and returned to fasteners when she and spouse John Wolz acquired Fastener Industry News in 1994 where they shared co-publisher titles.
Scholarship application submission offered to WIFI Members requesting Financial assistance to attend the Fastener Training Institute. Class fees will be covered for the Certified Fastener Specialist course, or any other class of equal or lesser value.
International Fastener Expo
Edith Cameron Scholarship
Submission deadline: July 5th, 2024
WIFI honors the memory of Edith Cameron, a pioneer in the fastener industry for 55 years. She was as devoted to her career in the industry as she was to her family and friends. She was a trailblazer in the industry for many years, inducted into the Fastener Hall of Fame in 1993 and encouraged many women to excel in the fastener business.
Scholarship application submission offered to WIFI Members requesting financial assistance to attend the International Fastener Expo in Las Vegas. Travel, accommodations and entrance to the show will be provided. The recipient must participate in the WIFI event and the show booth.
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Education
Maryann Marzocchi Scholarship
Deadline: July 5th, 2024
WIFI honors the memory of Maryann Marzocchi, Co-Owner of Distributor’s Link Magazine
The $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a woman to attend college or trade school. The recipient must have a female family member who is employed by a fastener company.
Maryann started her career in the fastener industry at Southern Screw Company in 1958 in the sales department where she developed her love of sales and service to customers. Maryann left Southern Screw to be home with her children and start her own business, Accurate Addressing and Mailing Service. Her at home business flourished as she worked with many fastener companies creating and managing all of their newsletters, advertising, correspondence, and mailings.
In 1976, Maryann’s brother-in-law Leo J. Coar recruited her to start a quarterly publication with him. They saw a need where people, products, and in-depth reporting could all come together in one publication and be conveyed to the fastener industry. Link Magazine published its first issue in Winter 1977.
Maryann served as Co-Owner and Vice President of Sales & Marketing. Working together with Leo for 36 years and with her daughter Tracey Lumia for 15 of those years, her love of the fastener industry was evident. Through the many trade shows she attended, her relationships with advertisers, writers, associations, and numerous industry friends she made throughout the years, Maryann had a unique ability to connect with people and bring them together.
“Working side-by-side with my mother for over 15 years was an honor. I’m proud of all that she accomplished both in business and personally. This scholarship will allow other female ‘go-getters’ of any age to achieve their dreams just as she did. Thank you to Women In The Fastener Industry for honoring Maryann with this scholarship.” – Tracey Lumia
We accept donations and corporate sponsorship to fund scholarships and networking events.