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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Bursi Phone: (877) 402-5900 13625 Bishop’s Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 jbursi@funeralservicefoundation.org Funeral Service Foundation Now Accepting Academic Scholarship Applications for Fall 2026 Inaugural Bob Arrington Scholarship Among More Than 25 Awards Ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 CANA Scholarship in the News! Read about the opportunity to receive the CANA Future Leaders Scholarship, including how to donate, below. BROOKFIELD, WI— The Funeral Service Foundation is accepting academic scholarship applications through November 1 at FuneralServiceFoundation.org. More than 25 scholarships, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, are available to current students of funeral service and military veterans who meet the eligibility criteria. This fall marks a milestone for the Foundation's scholarship program: the inaugural awarding of the Bob Arrington Scholarship. Established in honor of Bob Arrington, recipient of the Foundation's 2025 Distinguished Service Award, the scholarship was fully endowed through an outpouring of generosity from the funeral service community, with more than $225,000 raised in his honor. The Bob Arrington Scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in an accredited mortuary science program, a fitting tribute to a leader whose career in funeral service began at age seven and has continued more than five decades. "Bob Arrington has given so much to this profession and to the Foundation — his passion for developing the next generation of funeral service professionals is something we all witnessed firsthand. It's a privilege to see that legacy carried forward through this scholarship, and to know that students for years to come will benefit from the generosity he inspired," said Jeff Smith, chair of the Funeral Service Foundation Board of Trustees. "The full scholarship season reflects what this community does best: investing in people who will carry funeral service forward with skill and compassion." Since offering its first academic scholarship in 2002, the Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship, the Foundation has gone on to establish scholarships in memory of Shipley Rose Buckner, Mark Hornibrook & Harry Pontone, Steve Mack, Louis & Josephine Pontone, Dennis Schoepp, and Jack Springer with CANA, Todd Van Beck, and Tom Johnson, and in honor of APFSP, John Carmon, Bob Horn, Steve Lang, and Funeral Directors Life. The Memorial Classic Scholarships are funded by proceeds from The Tom Johnson Memorial Classic annual golf event; Foundation '45 Scholarships are awarded in recognition of the Foundation's founding year, 1945. The Foundation also promotes the Brenda Renee Horn and Steve Mack Memorial Scholarships in partnership with the SCI National Scholarship Program. Academic Scholarships for Students of Funeral Service Scholarships are open to full- or part-time students who are in good standing and enrolled in ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited institutions/programs. Candidates must be attending classes and actively pursuing a degree in funeral service at the time of application. Students who are enrolled but have not yet begun coursework at the time of application are not yet eligible. Paid directly to institutions, the scholarships offset the costs associated with tuition, fees, books and supplies. Academic Scholarships for U.S. and Canadian Military Veterans A $5,000 Journey to Serve Scholarship is available this fall to U.S. or Canadian military veterans who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled or accepted into an ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited funeral service program. The $2,500 Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholarship is also open to U.S. military veterans who are 18 years of age or older and currently enrolled or accepted into an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program. Application Process Using a common application format, all academic scholarship candidates are required to answer five questions in no more than 250 words per question and submit a brief video no longer than two minutes. Military veteran candidates will also be asked to supply an overview of their military service. Applicants are also required to provide the following support materials by the November 1 deadline: Most recent transcripts from the ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited institution A letter of good standing from the institution's registrar, bursar, or financial office A letter of recommendation from an instructor or program director Late applications are not accepted. Those who miss the deadline will have the chance to apply again in 2027. Those who have applied in the past but have not been awarded an academic scholarship from the Foundation are encouraged to re-apply. The scholarship program is supported by generous donors who share the Foundation’s vision for fostering the next generation of resilient, adaptable and compassionate leaders through education. Gifts of all sizes enable the Foundation to make education more accessible to funeral service students and professionals. To make a donation, visit FuneralServiceFoundation.org/DonateNow and select “Scholarship Funds” as your project designation. Donate directly to the CANA Future Leaders Scholarship here. ABOUT THE FUNERAL SERVICE FOUNDATION Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders profession-wide support the Foundation in its mission to lift up grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Bursi Phone: (877) 402-5900 13625 Bishop’s Dr. Brookfield, WI 53005 jbursi@funeralservicefoundation.org
Funeral Service Foundation Now Accepting Academic Scholarship Applications for Fall 2026 Inaugural Bob Arrington Scholarship Among More Than 25 Awards Ranging from $2,500 to $5,000
CANA Scholarship in the News! Read about the opportunity to receive the CANA Future Leaders Scholarship, including how to donate, below.
BROOKFIELD, WI— The Funeral Service Foundation is accepting academic scholarship applications through November 1 at FuneralServiceFoundation.org. More than 25 scholarships, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, are available to current students of funeral service and military veterans who meet the eligibility criteria.
This fall marks a milestone for the Foundation's scholarship program: the inaugural awarding of the Bob Arrington Scholarship. Established in honor of Bob Arrington, recipient of the Foundation's 2025 Distinguished Service Award, the scholarship was fully endowed through an outpouring of generosity from the funeral service community, with more than $225,000 raised in his honor. The Bob Arrington Scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in an accredited mortuary science program, a fitting tribute to a leader whose career in funeral service began at age seven and has continued more than five decades.
"Bob Arrington has given so much to this profession and to the Foundation — his passion for developing the next generation of funeral service professionals is something we all witnessed firsthand. It's a privilege to see that legacy carried forward through this scholarship, and to know that students for years to come will benefit from the generosity he inspired," said Jeff Smith, chair of the Funeral Service Foundation Board of Trustees. "The full scholarship season reflects what this community does best: investing in people who will carry funeral service forward with skill and compassion."
Since offering its first academic scholarship in 2002, the Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship, the Foundation has gone on to establish scholarships in memory of Shipley Rose Buckner, Mark Hornibrook & Harry Pontone, Steve Mack, Louis & Josephine Pontone, Dennis Schoepp, and Jack Springer with CANA, Todd Van Beck, and Tom Johnson, and in honor of APFSP, John Carmon, Bob Horn, Steve Lang, and Funeral Directors Life. The Memorial Classic Scholarships are funded by proceeds from The Tom Johnson Memorial Classic annual golf event; Foundation '45 Scholarships are awarded in recognition of the Foundation's founding year, 1945. The Foundation also promotes the Brenda Renee Horn and Steve Mack Memorial Scholarships in partnership with the SCI National Scholarship Program.
Scholarships are open to full- or part-time students who are in good standing and enrolled in ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited institutions/programs. Candidates must be attending classes and actively pursuing a degree in funeral service at the time of application. Students who are enrolled but have not yet begun coursework at the time of application are not yet eligible. Paid directly to institutions, the scholarships offset the costs associated with tuition, fees, books and supplies.
A $5,000 Journey to Serve Scholarship is available this fall to U.S. or Canadian military veterans who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled or accepted into an ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited funeral service program. The $2,500 Hunter M. Harbeson Memorial Scholarship is also open to U.S. military veterans who are 18 years of age or older and currently enrolled or accepted into an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
Using a common application format, all academic scholarship candidates are required to answer five questions in no more than 250 words per question and submit a brief video no longer than two minutes. Military veteran candidates will also be asked to supply an overview of their military service.
Applicants are also required to provide the following support materials by the November 1 deadline:
Late applications are not accepted. Those who miss the deadline will have the chance to apply again in 2027. Those who have applied in the past but have not been awarded an academic scholarship from the Foundation are encouraged to re-apply.
The scholarship program is supported by generous donors who share the Foundation’s vision for fostering the next generation of resilient, adaptable and compassionate leaders through education. Gifts of all sizes enable the Foundation to make education more accessible to funeral service students and professionals. To make a donation, visit FuneralServiceFoundation.org/DonateNow and select “Scholarship Funds” as your project designation.
Donate directly to the CANA Future Leaders Scholarship here.
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the philanthropic voice of the funeral profession and has identified as the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997. Donors and volunteer leaders profession-wide support the Foundation in its mission to lift up grieving communities by investing in people and programs that strengthen funeral service.