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

2023

Sirawit Shimpalee
University of Michigan
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Joseph Serpa 
University of Michigan
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering

Tara Donnelly
Texas A&M at Galveston 
Maritime Studies 

Kevin O’Connell
SUNY Maritime College 
International Transporation Management 

Malcolm Hanks
South Seattle College 
Mariner Welding 

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

The 2024 scholarship application is open through May 31, 2024! 

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

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.
2022-2023 Annual Sponsors 

PLATINUM

Shaver Transportation Company

SILVER

Vanport Marine & Industrial

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 (24)

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