UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two Penn State Smeal College of Business students were recently awarded the 2024 R. Gene Richter Scholarship.

The scholarship is offered to students enrolled in an accredited supply chain management program and offers tuition assistance, mentoring and networking opportunities.

Megan Merola, a third-year supply chain and information systems major who is a Schreyer Scholar and a member of the Sapphire Leadership Academic Program, and Alivia Clawson, a third-year supply chain and information systems major with a minor in information systems management, were selected as two of five award recipients.

“The program’s mission and its prominence within the supply chain industry, along with the opportunity to expand my professional network, were instrumental in my decision to apply for the Richter Scholarship,” said Clawson.

Since its inception in 2004, the scholarship program has gained national eminence and has been awarded to more than 140 students from 26 different universities across the United States. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on high academic achievement, demonstrated leadership ability and high ethical standards, as well as a commitment to a career in supply chain management. In addition to tuition support, the Richter Scholars are paired with an executive mentor who is a leader in the field of supply chain management and a junior mentor, who was a previous recipient of the award.

Clawson, who will be interning at IBM as a procurement professional consulting intern this summer, said she is eager to capitalize on the program’s mentorship opportunities.

“I’m most looking forward to connecting with my mentors, gaining insights into their professional development journeys, while also learning from their diverse backgrounds and experiences,” she said.

The program aims to fund students’ final year of college, with eligible recipients graduating in December 2024 or May 2025. Tuition assistance in the amount of $5,000 is available to the winter graduates, whereas the spring graduates receive $10,000 in scholarship funding.

“This scholarship does not only give financial relief, but it also provides a vast network that I will use throughout my career,” Merola said. “I am thrilled to sit and join in on conversations from experts in the field and actively listen and continue to be a lifelong learner.”

Merola, who will be interning with PwC as an SAP consultant this summer, said she knows the importance of cultivating a strong network. She noted that faculty and staff at Smeal, along with resources like the Sapphire Leadership Program were foundational to her success in securing experiential learning opportunities and building resiliency.

Bob Novack, a recently retired supply chain faculty member and Merola’s thesis adviser, was key in helping her apply for the Richter Scholarship and secure a previous co-op at The Hershey Company where she was responsible for forecasting more than $120 million of products. Merola also credited Melissa Paloskey, senior academic advisor to both awardees, for helping her succeed academically after she took a year off college to become a full-time caretaker for her mother who passed away from Glioblastoma Multiforme, a form of terminal brain cancer, in September 2023.

“I am very passionate about supply chain, and I hope to further explore other career paths within the field. Right now, I am drawn to procurement and forecasting,” Merola said. “Although I am thrilled to develop a career in supply chain, it is a goal of mine to create a non-profit that raises money for Glioblastoma research and families affected by it.”

The 2024 Richter Scholars are invited to attend the ISM International Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, this spring and will be honored at the ISM Awards Gala and an exclusive luncheon. While at the conference, the winners will meet their mentors and are invited to return to the ISM International Conference in 2026 to attend the executive conference and network with leaders in the field.

“Receiving this scholarship will be pivotal in propelling my academic pursuits, offering opportunities that will serve as steppingstones for my career. The program's offerings will facilitate my professional growth and continuous learning, enabling me to make a substantial impact in my field,” said Clawson.