HOUSTON (August 2, 2011) — Service Corporation International (SCI), North America’s largest single provider of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, has awarded $3,000 scholarships to 15 deserving mortuary science students throughout the United States. The goal of SCI’s scholarship program is to contribute to the development and training of tomorrow’s funeral professionals.
“Service Corporation International takes great pride in contributing to the education of these exemplary men and women who are pursuing a rewarding career in funeral service,” said Steve Tidwell, vice president of Main Street Market Operations. “The SCI scholarship program is one of the many ways we continue to demonstrate our commitment to the profession. Through this program, we work to raise awareness of students, most of whom do not yet work for SCI or SCI locations, who we’d like to help professionally develop and mentor.”
The field of 119 applicants was narrowed to 33 finalists, who were invited to travel to Houston in March 2011 to meet with a host of SCI associates from across the country and share experiences with other finalists who are also pursuing a rewarding career in funeral service. The finalists had an opportunity to meet and interview with the selection committee and were provided a tour of the National Museum of Funeral History. All travel expenses were provided by SCI.
“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to be in the presence of some top-class funeral professionals,” said one student. “I commend SCI for taking a pro-active stand to funeral service education.”
The 2011 scholarship recipients include Jay Benedict and Candice Smrekar of the University of Minnesota; Sarah Cox of Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Services; Leah Fulton*, Jake Penwell, Elizabeth Ryerson and Spencer Skorupski of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; Anthony Manzo and Lisa A. Nikkel of Wayne State University; Justin Matthis and Madison Salisbury of Carl Sandburg College; Dionna McQuaid of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; Chris Simon of Jefferson State Community College; Eli Turnbough of Worsham College; and Daniel Welch of the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.
*Leah Fulton of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science was awarded the Brenda Rene`e Horn Scholarship, a special distinction bestowed upon a student who proves to be competitive and ambitious and demonstrates a strong work ethic.
Service Corporation International is North America’s leading provider of deathcare products and services. SCI has more than 20,000 dedicated employees who provide the finest funeral, cremation and cemetery services to hundreds of thousands of families each year. Operating from a network of more than 1,800 funeral homes and cemeteries, the people of SCI assist families with compassion and guidance at difficult times, helping them celebrate the significance of lives that have been lived and preserving memories that transcend generations with dignity and honor. For more information, please visit www.sci-corp.com.
