Pi Chi Omega Awards Six Scholarships to Students Pursuing Studies in Entomology

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Pi Chi Omega, the international fraternity for pest control professionals, continues its legacy of supporting entomology students with its annual scholarship program. Established in 1976, Pi Chi Omega has awarded 177 scholarships, totaling over $269,000, to students studying entomology or a closely related field.

Bobby Corrigan, Ph.D., the first Pi Chi Omega scholarship recipient, and many other industry professionals today credit Pi Chi Omega scholarships for their career success. Each year, the organization awards six scholarships to deserving students who show exceptional dedication and talent in advancing the field of pest management.

Stephanie Hill, Ph.D., chair of the Scholarship Committee and a recipient herself in 2010, expressed the committee’s sentiments, “The scholarship committee was deeply impressed by the dedication, talent, and commitment demonstrated in all the applications received. We are proud of each of the applicants and their meaningful contributions to the pest management industry.”

Hill extended a big thank you to the scholarship committee for their time and dedication in discerning the recipients, stating, “It was a difficult decision to choose just six recipients out of a field of 16 deserving applicants.”

Congratulations to all the recipients! The six students awarded scholarships in 2024 are:
• John Osmun Scholarship awarded to Simona Principato, University of Kentucky for $3,000
• Founders Endowment Scholarship awarded to Hannah Blevins, University of Kentucky for $2,000
• Alain VanRyckeghem Memorial Scholarship awarded to Olivia Katz, University of Kentucky for $2,000
• Austin Frishman Scholarship awarded to Emily Ta, UC Riverside for $2,000
• Norm Ehmann Scholarship awarded to Samantha Dilday, Washington State for $2,000
• R. Randall Rollins Memorial Scholarship awarded to Morgan Wilson, Virginia Tech for $2,000

Pi Chi Omega President Desiree Straubinger, said, "These students represent the future of pest management and entomology research, and Pi Chi Omega is pleased to support their academic endeavors. The scholarship program is an integral part of Pi Chi Omega's mission to advance the pest management industry through education and research. Each year, the scholarship committee carefully reviews applications and selects recipients based on academic merit, dedication to the field, and potential to make significant contributions."

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please visit https://www.pichiomega.org/scholarship/ for more information. Scholarship applications are accepted each Spring in mid-March, reviewed by the scholarship committee, and then awarded to six deserving students who are studying urban and industrial pest management or some closely related plan of study. If that’s you, we’d love to consider you for a scholarship in 2025!

If you would like to make a contribution to the Pi Chi Omega Scholarship program to support and encourage students to pursue a career in our industry, you can make an online donation at pichiomega.org or contact the Pi Chi Omega staff at office@pichiomega.org or call 540/376-3617.