Scholarships

The Textile Rental Education and Research Trust (TRERT) is a 501(c)(3) Foundation established to promote research, safety, and education in the textile services industry by supporting research and development by means of providing safer workplaces, hygienically clean linen and uniforms and environmentally friendly plant operations; and to educate industry employees and the public regarding the need to protect the environment, workers, and customers through the adoption of sustainable reusable textile technologies. The Foundation also supports industry-related scholarships and research such as the recent Marketing Recovery and Expansion project and ongoing Industry Internship Program.

TRSA TRERT Scholarship Program funds support both individuals seeking a career in the linen, uniform, and facility services industry (Institutes) and students pursuing a degree from an accredited college, university, or technical school. Preference goes to individuals seeking career advancement and contributing to the linen, uniform, and facility services industry.

Executive Management Institute (EMI), Professional Management Institute (PMI) and Maintenance Management Institute (MMI)

EMI, PMI scholarships are for first sessions only (Year I).

Eligibility
An applicant must be a full-time employee of a TRSA member company in good standing for three years. Also, the employee must be employed by the sponsoring member company for over one year. Note: in the case of a multi-industry company, the employee must be employed in a division relating to the linen, uniform, and facility services industry.

Selection Criteria
The selection committee reviews applications to select a participant based on organizational role and responsibility and demonstrated potential. Particular attention will be given to applicants’ references, commitment to the linen, uniform, and facility services industry, and personal statements.

All scholarships will be awarded on the following priority basis and criteria:

• Have at least 5 years of industry-related experience for EMI and at least 3 years for PMI and MMI.
• Have a letter of support from his/her employer
• Be ready to assume a higher managerial role
• Be employed by a TRSA member at time of application
• Commit to attending the selected Institute program at the University of Maryland in early August for the duration of the selected program, i.e., 4 one-week sessions one year apart over three years for EMI, 2 one-week sessions over one year for PMI
• Selected participants are career linen, uniform, and facility services professionals ready to assume greater roles and responsibilities within the industry.

Application Requirements

• Completed online application (which includes a personal statement)
• Completed references (only references on the official online form will be accepted). A total of three professional references must be submitted. You will be prompted to indicate your professional references within the online application.

Scholarship Award – Each recipient company will receive free registration for the winning individual for the selected Institute but will be responsible for covering travel-related costs such as hotel accommodations and transportation.

Accredited college, university, or technical school

Eligibility
An applicant must be a full-time employee, child, or grandchild of a full-time employee of a TRSA member company in good standing for three years. The employee must be employed by this sponsoring member company for over one year. Note: in the case of a multi-industry company, the employee must be employed in a division relating to the linen, uniform, and facility services industry.

The student applicant can be anticipating freshman entry, can be previously accepted as a freshman, or can be an underclassman continuing education at an accredited college, university, or technical school All applicants must engage in studies during the semester immediately following their scholarship award. This scholarship program does not apply to graduate studies.

Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for a competitive TRSA TRERT Merit Award, a student must be a current high school senior maintaining a satisfactory academic record (a minimum cumulative 3.25 GPA out of a 4.0 scale) and a cumulative 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

All scholarships will be awarded on the following priority basis:

• Academic Achievement – High school scholarship ratings, as measured by the College Board’s Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing’s ACT test and grades, will form an important basis for scholarship awards
• Leadership Qualities – After the screening of SAT and ACT scores, candidates will be evaluated on their accomplishments and leadership abilities as indicated by supporting papers filed with their application
• Courses of Study – Consideration will then be given to applicants who, upon graduation, plan to work in the linen, uniform, and facility services industry and who will pursue a course of study for that purpose

Application Requirements

• Completed online application (which includes a personal statement)
• Full official academic transcripts from high school and any college, university or technical schools attended
• Copy of standardized test results if taken such as the SAT or ACT
• Letter(s) from high school educator, i.e., principal, advisor, teacher, coach, etc. describing leadership qualities, extra-curricular activities, and other relevant information

Scholarship Award
Each recipient will receive a TRSA check for $2,500 made payable to either the student or qualifying college, university, or technical school.

The TRSA Educational Foundation is the not-for-profit, charitable-giving, and fund-raising affiliate of the TRSA. Through industry-related scholarships and research, Foundation resources support TRSA’s Mission to protect, expand and professionalize the linen, uniform, and facility services industry and promote our commitment to environmental sustainability, hygiene, professionalism, and safer workplaces for our members’ customers and employees.

TRSA (www.trsa.org) members supply, maintain and launder linens, uniforms and other reusable textiles helping retailers, businesses, healthcare and long-term care facilities, restaurants, hotels, government, and other organizations enhance their image and provide clean, safe environments for employees and customers. The $40-billion North American linen, uniform and facility services industry employs nearly 200,000 people at 1,600 facilities. TRSA advocates for fair, balanced regulatory and tax policy and promotes the environmental benefits of reusable textiles. TRSA quantifies our industry’s commitment to cleanliness, sustainability and safety through its Clean Green, Hygienically Clean and Safety & Health Certification programs and helps companies increase productivity, sustainability, safety and professionalism through training, research, benchmarking, and information-sharing.