EMDA Scholarship Program

• Are you an EMDA member principal, an employee of a member, or a dependent of a member or member’s employee?
• Are you, or will you be, enrolling in a higher education curriculum or certification program, which is approved by the EMDA member principal as training applicable to the distributor’s/rep’s needs?

If you answer “yes” to both questions above, then you qualify to apply for an EMDA scholarship.

The EMDA Education Scholarship Program was established to support EMDA’s member companies and their employees and dependents pursuing a career for the betterment of themselves and their employer. The Scholarship program is available to all EMDA member company owners, staff, employees, and dependents pursuing their goal toward a Degree, License, or Certificate.

Selection Criteria

• Evidence of Leadership
• Work Experience
• Career Goals

To enhance the Association’s involvement with our members, this Education Scholarship Program will do just that. The program can touch each member company in a very positive way, and we think it will add great value to this Association and its member companies.

One $2,500 Scholarship will be awarded in 2021. Application process will be announced in January.

Videos submitted by previous Scholarship winners

The winners of the two EMDA’s 2020 Scholarships are Olivia Chvatal and Brady Traeder.

Olivia is the daughter of Scott Chvatal, and granddaughter of Frank Chvatal, Vice President and President (respectively) of Beaver Valley Supply Co., Atwood, Kansas. Beaver Valley Supply as been a FEWA/now EMDA member since 1984. Olivia is currently a Junior at Fort Hays State University working on a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting; a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration; and a Leadership Certificate.

Brady is the son of Tim & Tracy Traeder. Tim is President of Traeder Enterprises, Inc., Hillsboro, Wisconsin and a member of AIMRA, now EMDA, since 1990. While in high school and university, Brady has worked both part-time and full-time at Traeder Enterprises, Inc., currently serving as Operations Manager. He is the third generation involved with the company, following his grandfather, Tom Traeder, father, Tim, and his uncle, Ted. Brady is working toward a Marketing Degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Lubar School of Business.

The Scholarship Program was established in 2019 and the Committee was pleased to present the first scholarship to Blake Wolters.

Blake is the son of Kevin & Cindy Wolters, and grandson of L. R. & Judy Sights, all of Clinton, Oklahoma. L. R. and Kevin are the principals at Southwest Distributing Co., an EMDA member since 1979. The Committee was impressed by Blake’s accomplishments, chosen field of study, and history of employment with Southwest Distributing.

A  $2,500 award will be used for Blake’s studies during the 2019-2020 school year at Southwest Oklahoma State University, where Blake plans to major in Accounting & Finance.