VPPPA Scholarship Program

The VPPPA Scholarship Program offers four scholarships each worth $3,500 to support students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to safety and health in their schools and communities. Members and family (child, grandchild, spouse) of full-member sites in good standing should apply for VPPPA scholarships when pursuing a vocational, undergraduate, or graduate degree in the safety, health, or environmental fields.

All scholarship submissions undergo a comprehensive technical review by the National VPPPA Awards and Scholarship Committee subject matter experts.

Scholarships and Eligibility Criteria

Select a scholarship below to learn more and apply.

June Brothers Scholarship

The VPPPA June Brothers scholarship recognizes students who are leaders and role models in their schools, communities, and who are entering the safety/health/environmental field. This annual scholarship is granted to one student who is either employed at a VPPPA Full member site or to the child/grandchild/spouse of an employee at a VPPPA Full member site in good standing.

  • Students must be pursuing a degree (undergraduate or graduate) in the environmental, safety and health areas. Students can be either full-time or part-time.
  • All applicants must complete the application for the scholarship program that they are eligible for and submit an official transcript, reference letter from a high school teacher, a professor from the university they are attending or a supervisor at a current job, and a reference letter from the relative working at the VPP site. All applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.
  • Other criteria used to evaluate students include demonstrated leadership skills in extracurricular activities, involvement in professional organizations, communication skills, and other awards/honors earned at educational institutions.
  • Based on your chosen academic field, please elaborate on your commitment and vision for contributing to the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) sector. Highlight your understanding of the significance of EHS and the impact you aspire to make.

Sergeant Safety Scholarship

The VPPPA Sergeant Safety Scholarship (aka DoD Scholarship) is intended for students pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree in the safety/health/environmental field, and who is either employed at a VPPPA Full member site in good standing and associated with the Department of Defense (DoD), or a DoD contractor, or the child/grandchild/spouse of an employee at a VPPPA Full member site in good standing. This scholarship is open to students enrolled in, or enrolling in, a college or university.

  • All applicants must complete the application for the scholarship program that they are eligible for and submit an official transcript, resume and biography, reference letter from a high school teacher, professor or department head from the university they are attending or a supervisor at a current job, and a reference letter from the relative working at the VPP site.
  • All applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale, if already enrolled.
  • Based on your chosen academic field, please elaborate on your commitment and vision for contributing to the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) sector. Highlight your understanding of the significance of EHS and the impact you aspire to make.

Stephen Brown Scholarship

The VPPPA Steven Brown scholarship recognizes students who are leaders and role models in their schools, communities, and who are pursuing a degree in the trades. This annual scholarship is granted to one student who is either employed at a VPPPA Full member site or to the child/grandchild/spouse of an employee at a VPPPA Full member site in good standing.

  • Students must be pursuing a degree (undergraduate or graduate) in the trades. Students can be either full-time or part-time.
  • All applicants must complete the application for the scholarship program that they are eligible for and submit an official transcript, reference letter from a high school teacher, a professor from the university they are attending or a supervisor at a current job, and a reference letter from the relative working at the VPP site. All applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.
  • Other criteria used to evaluate students include demonstrated leadership skills in extracurricular activities, involvement in professional organizations, communication skills, and other awards/honors earned at educational institutions.

William “Sully” Sullivan Scholarship

The VPPPA William “Sully” Sullivan Scholarship recognizes an employee at a VPPPA Full member site who has made significant contributions to the VPP program at his/her site. This scholarship is open to employees enrolled in, or enrolling in, a vocational school, college, or university.

  • Applications will be accepted from students who work at a current VPP site. The VPP site must be a VPPPA Full member in good standing to qualify.
  • Applicants must demonstrate their contributions to VPP at their site.
  • Students must be pursuing a degree (undergraduate or graduate) either full-time or part-time.
  • All applicants must submit a completed application, an official transcript and a reference letter relating to their VPP involvement at their site from a VPP coordinator, operations manager, site EHS staff, OSHA, Regional VPPPA Chapter Chairperson, etc. All applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale, if already enrolled.

Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Winners!

June Brothers Scholarship Recipient

Danika Brar
Modesto, CA
University of California Santa Barbara

June Brothers Scholarship Recipient

Zayne Nelson
Richland, WA
Montana Tech University

Sergeant Safety Scholarship Recipient

Natalie Matthews
Richland, WA
Washington State University

William Sullivan Scholarship Recipient

Corey Cagle
Amarillo, TX
Columbia Southern University


For more than 35 years, supporters of VPPPA have enabled us to award more than $182,000 in scholarships and professional education grants to students in occupational safety and health. We have helped guide the next generation of advocates with scholarships, thanks to member generosity. Join us to support the individuals who will work to advance worksite occupational safety and health and save lives. All donations are tax-deductible.


Sponsored By

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is sponsor_valero.png