Fifteen students — each pursuing a career in the equipment rental industry — from throughout the United States have been awarded a total of $26,500 in academic scholarships from the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation.

One student was awarded a $2,500 scholarship, while 10 students each received $2,000 scholarships and four applicants were each awarded $1,000 scholarships. Fourteen of the 15 recipients selected by the Foundation scholarship committee work in their family’s rental operations.

The Foundation awarded the ARA Insurance Services $2,500 scholarship to Suzie Blodgett, of Hewitt, N.J. Blodgett is a party and showroom designer and rental consultant at A Party Center, Fairfield, N.J. Blodgett attends Berkeley College, Paramus, N.J., and is pursuing an associate’s degree in design.

After receiving the award, Blodgett said, “Our industry is full of challenges and adventures and I have chosen a career in the rental industry for that very reason. I believe receiving a higher education not only advances our careers but makes us more well-rounded as individuals and better able to understand the big picture.”

All of the ARA Foundation scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, rental industry involvement, a written essay on the applicant’s future plans in the rental industry and references.

Applicants must be owners, managers or employees of equipment rental stores or their family members. The scholarships cover tuition, fees, books and costs associated with traveling to and from campus for university, community college or technical school attendance.

The funds for the ARA Foundation scholarships are the direct result of contributions from all facets of the rental industry. Continuing to expand the reach of the Scholarship Program to provide opportunities for those new to the rental industry is among the Foundation’s long-term goals.

“ARA Insurance Services is pleased to participate in this valuable program by funding the highest dollar level scholarship of the Foundation,” Phil Kelling, president and CEO of ARA Insurance Services, said. “We see it as an investment in the future of the rental industry. By investing in people and programs, we make a difference for everyone.”

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