Merchants Exchange Scholarship Fund

The Merchants Exchange Scholarship Fund is proud to support students seeking or advancing careers in the Maritime Industry.

MISSION
The mission of the Merchant Exchange Scholarship Fund is to support the educational goals of students seeking or advancing careers in Maritime Affairs and/or International Trade, in order to ensure the future prosperity of the Maritime industry.

Vision: Strengthening the local and national Maritime industry through education and industry engagement. 

The Merchants Exchange Scholarship is designed to help students seeking or advancing careers in a field related to the Maritime Industry and/or International Trade, by providing resources for their continued education. The Scholarship is awarded by merit to students seeking or advancing a career in the maritime industry, or that influences the maritime industry.

SCHOLARSHIP
The Scholarship is awarded to students who have a minimum 3.0 GPA (or the school’s equivalent rankings) and are currently a junior or senior academic standing enrolled in a 4-year college/university; a freshman (first-year) or sophomore (second-year) at a 2-year institutional degree program; a graduate student; or a student in a US Coast Guard-approved course. The student must have a declared major/minor related to the Maritime Industry and/or International Trade as their chosen field of study. To apply, applicants must complete a short online application, provide certified academic transcripts and submit one (1) letter of recommendation from a professor or direct supervisor. Awards can be used towards tuition, fees and books.

Congratulation to the Scholarship Winners

2024

Dylan Bender
CSU Maritime
Marine Transportation

Stefan Endres
CSU Maritime
Marine Transportation

Brenden Falkowski
University of Michigan
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Galen Ng
University of Michigan
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering 

Sirawit Shimpalee
University of Michigan
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering 

Vie Anderson Award for Perseverence 2024

Erin Hulti
CSU Maritime
Marine Transportation

The Merchants Exchange Scholarship Fund wishes
all winners and applicants the best of luck
pursuing their chosen fields of study!

Since 2003, the Merchants Exchange Scholarship Fund has distributed over $80,000 in assistance to students. These funds directly support the education of our future colleagues and industry leaders by defraying the cost of tuition, books and course fees.

The 2025 scholarship application will open early 2025! 

To learn more about the application process
please go to the scholarship application page.
CLICK HERE

Scholarship Board of Directors

President:

Alex Scott, Anchorage Launch Service (26)

Vice President:

Randy Fischer, Port of Portland (26)

Secretary/Treasurer: 

Greg Zanavich, Tidewater Barge Lines (26)

Members of the Board:

Curtis Cannizzaro, Merchants Exchange (26)

Rebecca Henderson, Columbia River Pilots (25)

Samantha Shaver, Shaver Transportation Company (25)

Questions? Contact us!

Association Administration

Margerie Vis, Association Director

Email: scholarship@pdxmex.com