Funeral Service Foundation Invests $90,000 in Future Funeral Service Professionals

Recipients represent 15 U.S. states, three Canadian provinces, and 18 funeral service programs.

Brookfield, Wisconsin – Thanks to the generosity of its donors, the Funeral Service Foundation awarded 31 academic scholarships this fall totaling $90,000 to students across North America. Recipients hail from 15 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces and attend 18 funeral service programs, showcasing the wide reach of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting future professionals.

“Our scholarship program is an investment in the future of funeral service,” said Jeff Smith, Chair of the Funeral Service Foundation. “These students represent the next generation of leaders who will serve families with compassion and professionalism. We are proud to support their education and help them succeed in this meaningful career.”

Since awarding its first academic scholarship in 2002, the Foundation has expanded its program to include multiple named scholarships that honor and memorialize influential funeral service professionals and organizations.

This fall’s awards included the inaugural Tom Johnson Scholarship, honoring the legacy of Tom Johnson, a respected leader and advocate in the funeral service profession. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Award in 2024, and donations from across the profession helped memorialize him through this scholarship.

In total, the Foundation awarded 31 scholarships, which included 20 named scholarships, nine Foundation ’45 scholarships honoring the founding year of the Funeral Service Foundation, and two scholarships awarded to military veterans through the Journey to Serve initiative, in partnership with the ICCFA Educational Foundation.

The Foundation’s academic scholarship program runs in two annual cycles – spring and fall. The next application window is February 15 – April 1.

Academic Scholarship Fall Class of 2025:

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $5,000

Katy Bernard, Lubbock, Texas (Southern Illinois University – Mortuary Science and Funeral Service)
Tess Martin, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $5,000

Lilly Meade, Englewood, Colorado (Arapahoe Community College – Mortuary Science Program)
Amber Revelt, Parma, Ohio (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)
Jenifer Williams, Hoschton, Georgia (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)

APFSP/Fitzgerald Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Mallory Brown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Bob Horn Scholarship | $2,500

Jasmine Yang, St. Louis, Missouri (St. Louis Community College at Forest Park – Funeral Service Education)

CANA/Jack Springer Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Samia Craft, Castle Rock, Colorado (Arapahoe Community College – Mortuary Science Program)

Foundation ’45 Scholarship | $2,500

Amy Burr, Grovetown, Georgia (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)
Rane Halloran, Frederick, Maryland (Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville – Mortuary Science Program)
Thiago Nielsen, Millcreek, Utah (Salt Lake Community College – Mortuary Science Program)
Riley Roldan, Loveland, Ohio (Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science)

Funeral Directors Life Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Jody Bryant, Statesboro, Georgia (Ogeechee Technical College – Funeral Service Education)

John Carmon Scholarship | $2,500

Robin Warren, Danville, Virginia (Brightpoint Community College – Funeral Services Program)

Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Lauren Kreuser, Mayville, Wisconsin (Milwaukee Area Technical College-West Campus – Funeral Service Program)

Louis & Josephine Pontone Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Melissa Varghese, Macomb Township, Michigan (Wayne State University – Mortuary Science Program)

Memorial Classic Scholarship | $2,500

Sydney Dietz, Morris, Minnesota (University of Minnesota – Program of Mortuary Science)
Charae Kiplin, Loganville, Georgia (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)
Wayne Latimer Jr., Tulsa, Oklahoma (Dallas Institute of Funeral Service)
Ansley Williams, Lincoln, Nebraska (Des Moines Area Community College – Mortuary Science Program)

NGL – Harry Pontone Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Karen Coles, Gainesville, Florida (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)
Jena Thompson, Herrin, Illinois (Southern Illinois University – Mortuary Science and Funeral Service)

NGL – Mark Hornibrook Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Arianna Roland, Springfield, Ohio (Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science)
Nicolette Roether, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Shipley Rose Buckner Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Azuree McGee, Nashville, Ohio (Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service)

Steve Lang Scholarship (Homesteaders) | $2,500.00

Lindsey Vatter, New Castle, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Steve Mack Memorial Scholarship | $2,500.00

Charell Valentine, Munhall, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

Todd Van Beck Memorial Scholarship | $2,500.00

Carly Moran, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada (Canadian College of Funeral Service)

Tom Johnson Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Wesley Manning, Leesville, Louisiana (Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service)

Academic Scholarship for Veterans:

The Funeral Service Foundation, in partnership with the ICCFA Educational Foundation, offers academic scholarships to United States and Canadian military veterans, as part of the Journey to Serve initiative. Offered twice a year, scholarships range from $2,500-$5,000 and are available to military veterans who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program. Learn more about the Journey to Serve at www.JourneyToServe.com.

Journey to Serve Scholarship | $5,000

Monica Weisfeld, Mount Prospect, Illinois (Worsham College of Mortuary Science)

Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholarship | $2,500

Mark Biolo, Lakeville, Minnesota (Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science)

In Their Words:
In their own words, scholarship recipients express what this support means to them as they prepare to serve their communities through funeral service.

“I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of the 2025 Fall Military Academic Scholarship. As a veteran Navy Officer pursuing a vocation in mortuary science, this scholarship is much more than financial assistance – it is an affirmation of my commitment to continue to serve others in a new and most important way.”

Mark Biolo, Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholar

“Your investment in my education enhances my capacity to enter the field prepared, self-assured and determined to provide compassionate care.”

Samia Craft, CANA/Jack Springer Scholar

“I am truly grateful for the sense of community within funeral service and for generous people like yourselves who continue to encourage and uplift the next generation of funeral professionals.”

Sydney Dietz, Memorial Classic Scholar

“I am in my second year of apprenticeship in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where my love of funeral service has blossomed. Over my last year of study, I have been eager to learn, listen and be a part of this ever-growing professional community. I am proud to be a student of the Canadian College of Funeral Service, where I have been able to hone many necessary skills for both my funeral directing and embalming licenses.

Through my work in funeral service, I have had the honor of caring for the bereaved and their loved ones, learning how to best assist and meet the needs of different families. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to continue pursuing a career I am passionate about, and this investment in my education and future goals will not be forgotten.”

Tess Martin, Foundation ’45 Scholar

“Being rewarded with this scholarship demonstrates that I am achieving my goals, manifesting the life that I have always dreamed of, and following a career path that I was always meant to follow. The scholarship money also allows me to focus more on being a funeral director apprentice, a student a partner and a mom to my wonderful daughter.”

Amber Revelt, Foundation ’45 Scholar

“Thank you so much for this extraordinary gift to help me pursue my calling as a funeral director and embalmer. When I embarked on this journey, I knew it would be challenging – funeral service is my second career and meant starting over in many ways. But every day I spend working with families affirms for me – with absolute certainty – this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Jasmine Yang, Bob Horn Scholar

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS OR FUNDED NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS OR OPENING SOON:

Meet the Mentors Program: Applications close January 12, 2026. https://nfda.org/conferences/meet-the-mentors

2026 Professional Women’s Conference: Scholarships will open January 2, 2026, and close February 5, 2025. https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/scholarship-opportunities/nfda-professional-womens-conference-scholarships/

LINKS

Academic Scholarship Information Page + Photos of Scholars: https://www.funeralservicefoundation.org/scholarship-opportunities/academic-scholarships/

ABOUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION – FuneralServiceFoundation.org
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders profession-wide support the Foundation in its mission of lifting up grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.