Denton (UNT), Texas – A $10,000 commitment from the Promotional Products Education Foundation (PPEF) will provide UNT College of Business students with the support to build a strong foundation for their marketing careers.

PPEF has been awarding scholarships to promotional products industry employees and their children since 1989 – totaling more than $1.7 million since their inception. In 2016, they expanded their support to include commitments to universities and colleges that are preparing students for careers related to their industry.

UNT will be among the first of five recipients selected for PPEF’s pilot scholarship program, and the only Texas university in the mix. Other schools include the University of Memphis, San Jose State University, Northern Essex Community College and Wake Tech Community College.

“We have seen very well-rounded UNT graduates enter the workforce and become assets to their respective organizations,” said Bille Walchek, Director of Marketing at SAGE (PPEF’s partner company). “Several members of our team at SAGE are UNT alumni and they exhibit all of the qualities you want in colleagues and representatives of your company. Their hard-working attitudes and business acumen speak volumes about the education they received and made UNT stand out to us.”

The goal of PPEF is to build awareness of promotional products as a viable advertising medium and educate faculty and students about the career opportunities available in the industry. Their support of the marketing program at UNT’s College of Business will further these goals and help level the playing field for students.

“We accounted the strength of UNT’s business and marketing programs to our decision, and were impressed by the rigorous curriculum that prepares students for success in industries like ours. We couldn’t be more excited to contribute to UNT and to well-deserving students and future leaders in the workforce,” says Walchek.