Fairfax, VA – February 13, 2025 – The Pest Management Foundation has announced the establishment of the Kevin J. Burns Scholarship, endowed by Kevin J. Burns, Chief Development Officer of Arrow Exterminators, Inc., in Atlanta, GA.

About the Kevin J. Burns Scholarship

Kevin established this scholarship to support those students who are pursuing their degree in the sciences and will make a difference for those looking to build a career. This $1,000 scholarship will be awarded annually to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in any of the science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines.

“I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have discovered the pest control industry as a formulation chemist back in 1983 and was lucky enough to remain in and around it for the whole of my career.  I have made so many friends over my career that I now consider our annual Legislative Day and PestWorld trips more like family reunions than Association events.  Words cannot adequately express the special place in my heart for this industry that has supported me, my family, and all those friends.  This scholarship represents the love I have for this industry and for the Thomas family,” said Kevin.

Award Amount: One (1) award per year totaling $1,000

Eligibility Criteria:

• Full-time student in good academic standing with an unweighted GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
• Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate college students majoring in any STEM-related discipline (science, technology, engineering and math) at an accredited institution in the U.S.
• Students must demonstrate a strong commitment to their academic pursuits, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
• Priority given to applicants whose families work in the pest control or wine industry
• Priority given to applicants located in CA, FL, IN, GA, SC, MI or MO.
• Priority given to those students not from Clemson University.
• Recipients must commit to writing a letter of appreciation outlining how the scholarship has helped them in their academic endeavors.

Application Requirements:

• Resume or curriculum vita.
• Current unofficial academic transcript.
• A one-page (minimum) essay describing applicants’ professional goals and aspirations and how he/she plans to use their studies to contribute to the pest management industry.
• At least one (1) letter of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s work ethic, academic progress, and how they plan to use their studies to contribute to their field.

Other supporting documents (research papers and proposals, faculty research participation, related industry internship participation, fellowship projects, industry work experience, etc.) can also be submitted.

Applications for this and all other Foundation scholarships will open in October. For more information about the Foundation and its scholarship program, visit NPMAFoundation.org or contact Mike Bentley at mbentley@pestworld.org.

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The Pest Management Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission and purpose is to advance the pest management industry through education, research, and outreach. The Pest Management Foundation is affiliated with the National Pest Management Association, the industry's only national trade group. The Foundation has been in existence for more than 60 years and has funded urban entomology research projects at universities nationwide. For more information, visit www.NPMAFoundation.org.