AAMA Announces Annual Scholarship Award Winners


Schaumburg, Ill. - The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) celebrates 11 consecutive years of furthering the careers and education of students pursuing a degree related to the building products industry by awarding four scholarships to children of employees of AAMA member companies. The scholarship award winners were announced during the 2011 AAMA National Summer Conference, held June 5-8 in Minneapolis.

"AAMA is pleased to acknowledge the exceptional students who have dedicated themselves to working hard in their academic and extracurricular activities in pursuit of a career in architecture, engineering and related fields," stated Rich Walker, AAMA's president and CEO. "By supporting these students on their journey to further develop their knowledge and passion, we are hopeful these individuals will make valuable contributions in the building products industry in the future, as has been the case with previous award winners."

The AAMA Scholarship Program offers families of employees of AAMA member companies the opportunity to obtain financial aid for higher education in pursuit of a degree in an engineering or technical field relating to the building products industry. The scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000. Applicants are judged on grade point average, college entrance exam scores and a 500-word essay. Eligible candidates must be high school seniors or college students, who are children of employees of AAMA member companies in good standing.

The first 2011 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Danan Flander, an upcoming sophomore at the University of Iowa, where he is majoring in computer and information sciences. In high school, Flander was actively involved in tennis and Upward Bound: Math and Science. He received the Governor's Scholar Recognition and was Oskaloosa High School's Salutatorian. From an early age, Flander discovered an aptitude for computer programming and began taking hardware and software classes offered through the local community college. His mother, Michelle Mathes, is an employee of Pella Corporation in Pella, Iowa.

The second recipient is Danielle Misencik, who will be pursuing a degree in engineering as a freshman at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, in the fall. In addition to achieving a 4.0 GPA, Misencik is a four-year letter varsity golf achiever and won the Ohio State Golf Championship in 2009. She was awarded the All-Ohio Academic and Athletic honor for four years, is a member of the National Honor Society and provided more than 100 hours of service with her local youth group. Her father, Robert Misencik, is an employee of GED Integrated Solutions in Twinsburg, Ohio.

The third recipient is Joshua Schrader, an upcoming freshman at Des Moines Area Community College, where he will major in electromechanical technology. In addition to participating in football, baseball and track during high school, Schrader is a member of two volunteer fire departments in his community and is actively involved in his religion group as an altar server. Holding a GPA of 3.7, Schrader was recognized as a member of the National Honor Society. His mother, Carol Lynn Schrader, is an employee of Pella Corporation in Pella, Iowa.

The fourth recipient is Nicholas Cone, who will be a freshman at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., pursuing a degree in engineering due to his love for science and mathematics. In addition to being inducted into the National Honor Society for three years, Cone holds membership in the National Beta Club and is ranked second in his graduating class.

Supplementing rigorous honors and advanced classes, Cone enjoys playing on the varsity tennis team and his local ping pong club, while also volunteering at the Agape Senior Center. His father, Norman Cone, is an employee of Pella Corporation in West Columbia, S.C.

In addition to these national awards, AAMA member companies have the opportunity to participate in the Scholarship Partner Program in conjunction with the AAMA Scholarship Program to provide a scholarship opportunity for children of their own employees. AAMA scholarship partners include Graham Architectural Products, Mikron Industries (a Quanex company) and Milgard Manufacturing.

Andrew Weaver, an upcoming college freshman at California University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded the scholarship from Graham Architectural Products scholarship. Milgard Manufacturing has awarded three scholarships. The recipients are Carmen Enns, an upcoming freshman at Arizona State University; Jillian Hawley, an upcoming sophomore at Western Washington University; and Mercedes Gutierrez, an upcoming freshman at Evergreen Valley College.

For more information on AAMA Scholarship Programs, visit the AAMA website at www.aamanet.org or contact Jacqueline Saenz, AAMA Membership Coordinator, via email at jsaenz@aamanet.org .
AAMA is the source of performance standards, product certification,
and educational programs for the fenestration industry.SM

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