02/14/2019

Nine Students Awarded Scholarships by State Pest Association

The Education Foundation of the North Carolina Pest Management Association (NCPMA) recently awarded scholarships to nine students pursuing post-high school education programs.

The Foundation awarded a scholarship to Samantha McPherson (pictured above with NCPMA Board Member Marie Horner) to assist in the continuation of her studies at North Carolina State University (NCSU). McPherson is a graduate student studying Entomology.

The NCPMA Education Foundation awards $1,500 annually to students attending North Carolina State University. The scholarship was presented at the NCPMA Pest Control Technician’s School in Durham in January 2019.

McPherson grew up in Julian, NC, and completed her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She currently studies cockroaches under Dr. Jules Silverman and Dr. Coby Schal at NCSU where her research is largely focused on cockroach nutrition, with emphasis on how cockroaches make diet choices and how diet affects reproductive success.

In addition, the NCPMA Education Foundation also awarded eight Past President’s Scholarships to students pursuing post-high school degrees.

The Past President’s Scholarship by the Education Foundation of the NCPMA was created in 2004 to help encourage and build the next generation of pest management professionals. Scholarships are awarded to owners or employees of NCPMA member companies and/or their family members including spouses, children and grandchildren. Preference is given to those who demonstrate an interest in pursuing careers in the pest management industry.

NCPMA has awarded more than $190,000 in scholarships since 2005.