About the Ron Garikes Student Scholarship

2012 Scholarship

A $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to a student planning a career in professional services marketing in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Students pursuing a degree in marketing, public relations, or communications, are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to SMPS members (including student members and other members in good standing). This scholarship may be used toward academic expenses such as tuition and fees, books, supplies, and etc.

To qualify for the scholarship program:
1.  Your college or university must be located in the United States and the institution’s accreditation must be recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.
2.  You must be currently enrolled and pursuing a bachelor or associate degree or a graduate degree in marketing, public relations, and/or communications.
3.  Students pursuing a bachelor or associate degree must be enrolled full time, with a course load of at least 12 semester hours. Students pursuing a graduate degree must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits.
4.  You must currently have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
5.  You must have two letters of recommendation: one from either your academic advisor or a professor in the degree program in which you are enrolled, and the other from a person who can speak to your passion about your major and/or the field of professional services marketing.
6.  You may not have previously received any scholarship award from the SMPS Foundation or more than one scholarship from an SMPS chapter.
7.  You must respond to one of two essay questions.
8.  Preference will be given to SMPS members (including student members and all other members in good standing).

Download the application here.

If you have questions about the scholarship, please contact Michele Santiago, SMPS National Marketing Director, at 800.292.7677, ext. 245, or michele@smps.org.

Application Deadline: May 31, 2012

2011 Scholarship Recipients Announced

Congratulations to the 2011 Ron Garikes Student Scholarship winners: Elena de Verteuil and Jennifer Paucke! Both of this year’s winners are entering their junior year in college, have interned in A/E/C firms, and intend to pursue careers in professional services marketing (a requirement of the Garikes scholarship). 

Elena de Verteuil is pursuing a degree in Marketing with a minor in Entrepreneurship at Miami University located in Oxford, OH. She is a student member of SMPS Columbus. de Verteuil said, “My involvement in SMPS Columbus' Student Membership Program and associated chapter networking events led to a summer internship with Resource International, Inc., where I gained valuable experience in the A/E/C marketing industry. While working, I assisted with proposal and qualifications packages, created marketing materials and leave-behinds for interviews, and organized employee project interviews.”

Jennifer Paucke is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a minor in Marketing and Technical Communication at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA.  She recently interned with Foresite Group, a civil engineering firm, where she worked in the marketing department. There Paucke enjoyed designing graphics, client materials, and templates. She excelled in her internship by taking initiative, going above and beyond what she was asked to do, and applying what she learned in class to this real-world experience.

De Verteuil and Paucke each received $1,500 from the SMPS Foundation to be used towards their educational expenses.

History of the Ron Garikes Student Scholarship

This scholarship was created by the SMPS Foundation in partnership with Karlsberger, a full-service planning and architectural firm, where Ron Garikes (pictured right) spent most of his 27-year career. Garikes, who is now retired, most recently led the firm’s national Laboratory and Technology Group and served as COO of its former Birmingham, AL, office. Karlsberger closed their doors in June 2011 after 83 years of service.

A Distinguished Life Member and a Fellow, Garikes has served SMPS in the roles of National President (1991–92), National Board Secretary, Southeast Regional Director, and Foundation Trustee. Garikes is a founding member of SMPS Alabama and was president of that chapter. A contributing author to the three editions of The Marketing Handbook for the Design and Construction Professional, Garikes is an accomplished industry author and presenter, and a contributor to the SMPS journal, Marketer. 

For more information

Contact Michele Santiago, SMPS National, at 1.800.292.7677, x245, or michele@smps.org.