This year, 35 outstanding students have been named recipients of the PPG Foundation Scholarship. These aspiring professionals represent a diverse range of fields, including medicine, aerospace engineering, law, software development, astrophysics research, and quantitative finance. They join thousands of previous awardees who have benefited from the PPG Foundation Scholarship Program, which has been administered in partnership with the NATIONAL MERIT® Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) since 1956.
Recipients receive financial support to advance their undergraduate education and career paths. Since the program’s inception, more than 3,000 scholarships have been awarded. The 2025 awardees include both children of PPG employees and students residing in communities near PPG facilities. Each recipient will receive annual scholarships for up to four years of undergraduate study or until they complete their degree requirements, whichever comes first.
“The 2025 class of National Merit Scholarship recipients represents the next generation of innovators and leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields,” said Malesia Dunn, executive director, PPG Foundation and corporate global social responsibility. “The PPG Foundation is proud to support these students and future leaders, ensuring they have the resources needed for success on their higher education journeys."
One of the recipients, Monica Guardado, aspires to become a Spacecraft Design Engineer. Reflecting on the impact of the scholarship, she shared, “The PPG Foundation National Merit Scholarship closes a critical financial gap in my educational journey. Coming from a challenging upbringing, this is truly an honor and a significant validation of my academic dedication. Beyond the financial assistance, it's a powerful investment in my future, giving me the encouragement to pursue my goals with even greater determination. The PPG Foundation's support empowers me to fully immerse myself in my studies and contribute to advancements in innovative technologies and scientific research.”
This year's Sue Sloan Scholarship award winner is Sivaneyan Sezhian, child of Dr. Sezhian Annamalai, Materials Technology Manager at PPG. The award honors the legacy of Sue Sloan, former executive director of the PPG Foundation, who played a significant role in our involvement with the NMSC program and served on the NMSC Board of Directors from 2008 to 2014. Sezhian plans to pursue a major in Operations Research & Information Engineering at Cornell University, with aspirations to build a career as a Machine Learning Researcher.
Learn more about the recipients of the PPG Foundation Scholarship here.