All through the pages of the February/March problem of Hardwood Flooring journal, you’ve examine easy methods to construct a basis for a profitable profession within the wooden flooring trade. Now, I wish to share among the methods you can also make a distinction in your profession or another person’s profession through the Nationwide Wooden Flooring Affiliation (NWFA) Training & Analysis Basis (NERF).

NERF exists to additional the expansion and improvement of the hardwood flooring trade by way of analysis and training. NWFA gives instructional alternatives by way of NERF, resembling hands-on coaching, NWFA College, NWFA Reside Edge, and scholarships. Because of the generosity of our members, NWFA has awarded scholarships totaling greater than $100,000 since 2014. I wish to share an summary of the scholarships to which you’ll contribute or apply to obtain.

NWFA Coaching Scholarship

These scholarships are designed to supply monetary help for NWFA hands-on coaching occasions. Funds from NWFA Legacy and Named Scholarships present one award of $500 per multiple-day faculty to additional college students’ training.

Wooden Research Scholarship

The NERF Wooden Research Scholarship promotes the post-secondary research of forestry and forestry-related sciences. This nonrenewable scholarship for $1,000 every is awarded to at least one highschool senior and one present school scholar who will research forestry to advance and enhance forestry practices for generations to come back.

For extra details about scholarships the NWFA gives or to use, go to nwfa.org/scholarships. To contribute to NERF and its ongoing instructional and coaching initiatives, contact Stephanie Owen at 314.686.1910 or stephanie.owen@nwfa.org.

Business Advocates Fund

Contributions to this fund will be made in any quantity. These donations shall be mixed with different contributions to fund normal NWFA coaching scholarships. For as little as $25, you’ll be able to assist fund the way forward for the wooden flooring trade.

Legacy Scholarship

The Legacy Scholarship Program honors people who made important contributions all through their lives to advance the wooden flooring trade. It started in 2013, when Tommy Maxwell with Maxwell Hardwood Flooring donated $5,000 to ascertain a scholarship honoring his trade peer and pal Bob Haggard, with Hassell & Hughes Lumber Firm. Since Haggard’s recognition, family and friends of greater than 30 people have established Legacy Scholarships to honor and memorialize their family members.

Every Legacy Scholarship is established with a minimal of $5,000, which permits the fund to be named after the benefactor. Scholarships are awarded primarily based on funding earnings of the overall funds, and recipients obtain a letter summarizing that particular person’s contributions to the trade.

Named Scholarship

The NERF Named Scholarship program helps the NWFA preserve coaching prices to a minimal for contributors. For a contribution of $20,000, you’ll be able to honor a person who made important and lasting contributions to the trade. Present Named Scholarships embody Carl Anstett and Edgar P. Anstett – Powernail Firm, Virgil Hendricks – Lockwood Flooring and Mid-West Ground Firm, Dick Hradecki – Floorco Ltd., and Paul Stringer – Somerset.

Contributions at the moment are being accepted to ascertain In-Memoriam Named Scholarships for Jorge “Tito” Boror – Loba-Wakol and Don Conner – Mullican Flooring.

We recognize your help in serving to us advance the trade by bettering wooden flooring information and hands-on abilities for the following technology of craftspeople.