The Planning and Visual Education Partnership’s (PAVE) Student Scholarship Program announced its fifth year of funding to benefit college students that are working toward a career in the retail environments industry. In four years, the young program has granted more than $54,000 in aid for 35 students.

“Design and visual education is vital for our retail industry so that we can continue to inspire customers with exciting concepts,” said Denny Gerdeman, PAVE President and CEO of Chute Gerdeman. “The cost of this education is now almost out of reach for some very promising students. The PAVE mission is to help these students succeed by providing them with necessary funding.”

In addition to the PAVE Student Scholarship Program, funds are also granted to students facing financial hardship to assist with basic expenses such as tuition, books, housing, food and transportation.

“Receiving a scholarship from PAVE affirmed to me that there are people in this world who desire to inspire students and invest in their futures,” said recipient Meridyth Johnson. “It gave me the confidence that I can make a difference as a designer because someone gave me the chance to receive an excellent college education. I received not only a gift, but the inspiration and encouragement to succeed.”

PAVE’s Student Scholarship Program is now accepting applications at www.paveinfo.org. The deadline for applications is Oct. 1, 2013.

The program owes its existence to scholarships created by the contributions of companies in the retail environments industry including:

B+N Industries 

Crown Metal 

DAVACO 

Dillmeier Glass Co.

Elevations Inc.

EMI Industries 

TJ Hale 

High Country Millwork 

Impressions Marketing Group 

Leggett & Platt 

Lifestyle/Trimco 

Mondo Mannequins 

OCTANORM USA 

Reeve Store Equipment Co. 

Showbest 

Stylmark