Thank You to Our Scholarship Sponsors

Graduate Scholarship Sponsors


The HR Florida State Council serves as the premier resource for best practices relating to HR for both public and private employers in Florida. The Council facilitates services and programs for the collective interest of the state's SHRM and local chapter membership, and promotes activities that serve professionals and advance the profession.

As a strong supporter of the SHRM Foundation’s mission to educate HR professionals, the Council is pleased to provide academic resources to advance the educational pursuits of students in the Sunshine State.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2018: Kathleen A. Kalies

The National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), founded in 1992, recognizes individuals of distinction in HR for exceptional professional achievement as "Fellows of the NAHR" and recognizes human resource related groups as "Honored Institutions/Organizations." NAHR recognized the SHRM Foundation as an honored organization in 2014.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: James Walsh
  • 2017: Shannon Fazande & Burgandy Mallinger
  • 2018: Elizabeth RIssler Pratt & Sharonda W. Bishop

Jim Pollin, founder and principal of Pollin Group, is proud to support this scholarship to develop strong and creative HR leaders and partners in business. Jim believes in the importance of investing in communities and business, both of which provide for a strong foundation for our future. He has over 30 years of experience in cruise meetings and incentives, corporate social responsibility and career development. Pollin Group specializes in working with HR professionals to provide their organization with a range of options for productive meetings, employee motivation and memorable experiences on cruise ships.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2017: Alysson DuPont

Undergraduate Scholarship Sponsors


The HR Florida State Council serves as the premier resource for best practices relating to HR for both public and private employers in Florida. The Council facilitates services and programs for the collective interest of the state's SHRM and local chapter membership, and promotes activities that serve the professional and advance the profession.

As a strong supporter of the SHRM Foundation’s mission to educate HR professionals, we are pleased to provide academic resources to advance the educational pursuits of students in the Sunshine States

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2018: Jennifer Pappadouplos

Junior Achievement USA inspires and prepares young people to succeed in the global economy. Through its collaboration with the SHRM Foundation, Junior Achievement will engage its associates, HR professionals and educators in initiatives that better prepare young people to be successful adults in the world of work.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: Randi Daniel
  • 2017: Brian Loiacono
  • 2018: Patrice Fischer

Larry Burk, a past SHRM employee and volunteer, passed away in 2015. Larry was a dedicated HR professional who was committed to the profession and fellow HR professionals. As a volunteer for SHRM, he served as the Dallas HR Chapter President, Texas State Council Director, Area IV Vice-President, and on the National SHRM Board of Directors. Larry retired from the HR department of the Boy Scouts of America after 23 years, and then served SHRM full time as a regional director. Donations in memory of Larry to support the SHRM Foundation are accepted online at shrmfoundation.org/donate or by phone at 703.535.6020.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Corinne Smith
  • 2016: Vivian Luu
  • 2017: Jason Chung
  • 2018: Ivelice Blanco

Libby Sartain, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CCP started her work with SHRM (then ASPA) as a student at Southern Methodist University, where she became an officer with the student chapter. In graduate school at the University of North Texas, she helped revitalize a dormant chapter and became an officer. During her 30+ year career in human resources--which included leading HR at both Southwest Airlines and Yahoo!--she has been active with SHRM. Libby has served as the president of the Dallas SHRM Chapter and the Chair of the SHRM Board of Directors. She currently serves on the SHRM Foundation Board. This award celebrates Libby's many years of volunteer service to SHRM and her ongoing support for the next generation of HR professionals.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Twylla Stone
  • 2016: Taylor Demyan
  • 2017: Krystee Chase
  • 2018: Brooke Leabch

Dr. Lisa Burke-Smalley, Ph.D., SPHR, served as a SHRM student chapter advisor while an associate professor at Louisiana State University at Shreveport. This award was created in her honor in 2001 when one of her former students (who has chosen to remain anonymous) donated money for the scholarship. Today, Lisa is a professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Alejandra Solares de la Campa
  • 2016: Travis Doderlein
  • 2017: Alex Miller
  • 2018: Chelsea Parcero

Paula H. Harvey, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, GPHR believes in education. After graduating from UT-Austin, she started her HR career as a recruiter and later moved into a generalist role. Paula first became involved with SHRM while pursuing her MBA at UNC Charlotte. She served as her chapter's university liaison for seven years and later spent 10+ years as student chapter advisor. Paula has been a dedicated SHRM volunteer in both North Carolina and Texas, holding various roles including MAC representative, state director and chapter president. She has been honored with numerous awards for her service including NCSHRM HR Professional of the Year, NCSHRM HR Hall of Fame, NCSHRM Humanitarian of the Year (for her work mentoring students). Paula is currently VP of HR for Schulte Building Systems, Inc. and an adjunct instructor at Rice University's Institute for Human Resource Education. This scholarship was created to honor Paula's outstanding volunteer service and her dedication to mentoring and encouraging HR students.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: Brian Loiacono
  • 2017: Becky Krueger
  • 2018: Olivia Ferri

Jim Schultz retired in 2014 following a 30-year career in human resources with Chevron Corporation. Jim and his family value volunteering and giving back to the professional community, which Jim exemplified during his service as a member and chair of the SHRM Foundation's Board of Directors. After retiring, he launched this scholarship to support students in the hope that recipients will likewise give back to the vocation that provides so much to organizations, employees and HR professionals themselves.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: Burgandy Mallinger
  • 2017: Kelda Latham Bennett
  • 2018: Carlos Delgado Ruiz


Certification Scholarship Sponsors


With a long tradition of excellence in development HR and other leaders, the 3M Company believes in education. It created this award in 2015 to honor chief human resource officer Marlene McGrath and her vision of the power of human resources to foster a culture of creative collaboration. The award honors the many employees who help to make 3M a great place to collaborate and innovate.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Dewey Goering & Jennifer Williams
  • 2016 winners: Gregory Colletti & Andrew Marcotte
  • 2017 winners: Tanisha Moise & Rachael White
  • 2018 winners: Brandi Smith & Erica Guillory

The California SHRM State Council is an essential and effective partner in uniting and supporting California's HR community. To recognize the significance of professional certification and the continued development of HR practitioners, California SHRM established this scholarship in 2016. The award will be offered twice annually to two HR professionals that live or work in California. California SHRM is proud to give back to its members. With these awards, they acknowledge the value of future HR leaders, their organizations and the broader HR community.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2017: Michael Moorman
  • 2018: Haifah VanDer Shcyff & Lila Lam

Since its founding in 2009, Career Spa, LLC has been providing encouragement, teaching and accountability to help the unemployed and misemployed rejuvenate their careers. Company founder and principal, Tom Darrow, SHRM-SCP, who has served as SHRM Foundation board chair and president of SHRM-Atlanta, has a passion for the HR profession. It’s his hope that his leadership and advocacy of HR and the underwriting of this scholarship will help advance human resources.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Bevetta Morton
  • 2016: April Asher
  • 2017: Gregory Gyarmati
  • 2018: Carol Henderson

The HR Florida State Council serves as the premier resource for best practices relating to the human resources profession for both public and private employers located throughout the state. The Council facilitates services and programs for the collective interest of the state's SHRM and local chapter membership, and promotes activities that serve the professional and advance the profession.

As a strong supporter of the SHRM Foundation’s mission to educate and develop HR professionals, its members are pleased to provide academic and certification resources to advance the educational pursuits of HR professionals located within the Sunshine State.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2018: Nataline Wojcik, Tanishia Ravnell & Diamond Taylor

The Maryland SHRM State Council is pleased to provide a certification scholarship to elevate the profession and support the professional. We realize that pursuing certification is a big commitment of time, effort and financial resources. Our hope is that the scholarship eases at least the financial piece of that commitment. MD SHRM is a strong supporter of SHRM certification and this is one of many ways that we give back to HR practitioners in Maryland.

This scholarship celebrates Reverend Miriam Gordon, a lifelong-learner with a tireless commitment to community. Her generosity and caring are legendary among her church, family, friends and civic societies. She lived life with love, courage and optimism and always had a sense of humor. Miriam was particularly proud of her long association with the Afro-American Cultural Foundation, working with its legendary executive director and well-known historian, John Harmon. Her daughter Margo says, "My Mom cared deeply for people and often put others above her own concerns. She would be honored to have her name associated with giving and learning."

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2017: Karen Hester
  • 2018: Stacy Henry

Attendees at the annual SHRM Partners Reception, held during SHRM’s Annual Conference & Exposition, have made this award possible. These donors have demonstrated their commitment to supporting lifelong learning and certification.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: Heather Douglas-Shoup, Tamara Kimble and Monterry Luckey
  • 2017: Sandra Jones, Patricia McNeill, Dainelle Taseris, Vijay Takkar, Stephanie Trexler and Amanda Williams

Since its founding in 1999, Talent Connections, LLC, has been delivering top human resource talent to organizations through executive search and contractor services. Company founder and principal, Tom Darrow, SHRM-SCP, who has served as SHRM Foundation board chair and president of SHRM-Atlanta, has a passion for the HR profession. It’s his hope that his leadership and advocacy of HR and the underwriting of this scholarship will help advance human resources.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Melissa Bello Sumner
  • 2016: Kelly Rico
  • 2017: Diana Anderson
  • 2018: Kia Smith

The Virginia SHRM State Council is an essential and effective partner in uniting and supporting Virginia’s HR community. The Council established the scholarship in 2014 to recognize the significance of professional certification and the continued development of HR practitioners. The award is offered annually to one HR professional in Virginia or the District of Columbia. Living its values of passion, connection, inclusion, innovation and integrity, Virginia SHRM is proud to give back to its members. With this award, it acknowledges the value of future HR leaders, their organizations and the broader HR community.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2015: Beverly Riddle
  • 2016: Sherri Showers
  • 2017: Ti-Kimena-Mia Coltrane
  • 2018: Omanda Rogers

The Wisconsin SHRM State Council is an essential and effective partner in uniting and supporting Wisconsin’s HR community. It established this scholarship in 2016 to recognize the significance of professional certification and the continued development of HR practitioners. The award is offered annually to one HR professional that lives or works in Wisconsin. With this award, Wisconsin SHRM acknowledges the value of future HR leaders, their organizations and the broader HR community.

 PAST WINNERS

  • 2016: Karla Dickson
  • 2017: Stephanie Klomsten
  • 2018: Judy Atkinson

Professional Development Scholarship Sponsors



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Aug 8 - Oct 11
SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP Certification Scholarships
Aug 8 - Oct 11
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Aug 8 - Oct 11
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