Material Handling Education Foundation Scholarship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by Material Handling Education Foundation, Inc.

Overview
The Material Handling Education Foundation, Inc. (MHEFI) is a charitable, independent organization that encourages students to enter the material handling, logistics, and supply chain fields by providing financial support. Since 1976, MHEFI’s scholarships have helped more than 1,500 students and educators pursue meaningful careers and strong academic programs.

Scholarship summary
- Award amount: $1,500 to $6,000 (multiple scholarships available).
- One application considers you for all Foundation scholarships; a recipient will receive at most one award.
- Scholarships cover one academic year. Previous recipients may apply again each year if they still meet eligibility requirements.
- There are two separate application tracks for the 2026/2027 academic year: one for rising freshmen and one for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Be sure to choose the correct program.

Who is eligible (for Fall 2026 / Spring 2027)
To apply for the 2026/2027 term you must:
- Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate at a qualifying U.S. non-profit college or university accredited by the Council for Higher Education.
- Be pursuing a career in material handling, logistics, or supply chain and be in one of these classifications for Fall 2026: freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior.
- Maintain at least a “B” grade point average in your major.
- Plan to remain enrolled for the full academic year (Fall 2026 and Spring 2027) unless interrupted by illness, emergency, or military service.
Note: Scholarship funds cannot be used for study abroad semesters.

Target majors and programs (encouraged to apply)
Undergraduate students in programs focused on material handling, logistics, or supply chain are encouraged to apply, including:
- Industrial Engineering
- Industrial Distribution
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
- Structural Engineering (cold-formed steel design focus)
- Engineering Technology
- Computer Science related to material handling & supply chain
- Business & Management related to material handling or supply chain management
- Imaging and camera-based vision systems (barcode/RFID/LIDAR/RADAR sensors, etc.)

How to apply — step by step
1) Request a recommendation first
- You must obtain a recommendation from a professor, faculty member, or employer. Go to https://MHEFI.smapply.org, create an account, and enter the recommender’s name and email. The recommender will receive a form to complete. Once they submit it, you’ll get an email telling you the recommendation is in and you can continue the application. (Tip: ask your recommender in person or by email before entering their contact details.)

2) Complete the short-answer questions and list activities
- Provide thoughtful short answers and list extracurricular activities, work experience, and awards/honors.

3) Upload supporting documents and your resume
- Include items that show your engagement with the field, such as research papers, project summaries, white papers, case studies, or a short video.

4) Submit an official transcript
- The scholarship requires an official transcript sent directly from your school. Have your institution either:
- Email a secure download link (with printing allowed) to mammons@mhi.org, or
- Mail a hard copy to: Mary Alyson Ammons, MHEFI, 8720 Red Oak Blvd., Suite 201, Charlotte, NC 28217.
- Incoming freshmen should request a transcript from their high school. Transcripts sent directly by students will not be accepted.

Important dates
- Application opens: October 1, 2025
- Scholarship awards announced by: April 30, 2026

A few teacherly tips
- Start early: get the recommendation lined up weeks before the application opens.
- Make your short answers specific—show how your projects or work relate to material handling or supply chain problems.
- Double-check that your transcript is sent directly from the school; that’s a common reason applications are disqualified.

If you want, I can help you draft your recommendation request email or review your short-answer responses before you submit.