2025 Irving Innovation Awards

The Irving Innovation Awards spotlight organizations that have reimagined what it means to support students—ensuring their initiatives not only provide financial aid but also create holistic opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Originally, an in-person celebration was scheduled for November 2025 in Washington, D.C., but this event was cancelled due to significant air travel disruptions. However, we are happy to report that Scholarship America is working with local nonprofits in D.C. to donate all the food prepared for the event to local college students who recently lost SNAP benefits.

In place of the in-person gathering, throughout the remainder of 2025, we will be publishing a weekly Digital Spotlight Series, celebrating the transformational impact of Scholarship America’s programs and to honor our scholarship sponsors for their excellence and innovative approaches.

We are proud to celebrate this year’s awardees:

• AbbVie, Inc., whose AbbVie Immunology Scholarship helps build meaningful educational pathways for students and families living with a range of autoimmune diseases.
• Alabama Power Company Foundation, whose scholarship program exemplifies a deep investment in both their workforce families and the state of Alabama’s educational landscape.
• Aramark, whose IN2WORK program has worked with thousands of incarcerated individuals and their families, offering educational programs and foodservice industry certifications for a path to success both during and post-incarceration.
• CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Foundation, whose Opportunity Scholarship program provides high-impact $15,000 awards to 75 students pursuing finance, accounting, business, and emerging fields like AI and legal technology.
• Dunkin’​, whose Regional Scholarship Programs in Baltimore/Metro DC and Philadelphia represent a thoughtful approach to regional community investment that extends beyond their customer base. 
• Edison International, whose three programs forge innovative connections to their community, schools and unions and demonstrate exceptional strategic thinking about workforce development.
• Hilton Global Foundation, whose Hilton Cares Scholarship is removing barriers to opportunity and investing in the growth of both its workforce and global communities.
• New York Life Insurance Company, whose Financial Empowerment Scholarship demonstrates a unique commitment to student achievement beyond the classroom, giving students the tools they need for future success.
• Niveau Philanthropy, whose focus on urgent needs in its local community demonstrates the impact of smart DAF investment and effective emergency aid intervention.
• PGA of America Reach Foundation, whose John & Tamara Lundgren Scholars Program, provides important opportunities for talent from diverse backgrounds, including populations historically underrepresented in the golf industry.
• Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., whose DEWALT Trades Scholarship program represents true innovation in the use of scholarships as a future-focused workforce development tool for the skilled trades.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation, whose “She is Football” Scholarship is a groundbreaking initiative to support female high school seniors participating in football.
• Tencent America, whose scholarship program is a forward-thinking initiative designed to make the video game industry more accessible to the next generation of diverse storytellers, creators, and innovators.
• The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, whose program model shows how community foundations can leverage professional scholarship management to create a multiplier effect that benefits the entire region.
• The Vertex Foundation, whose scholarship program is a shining example of scholarships focused on communities of patients, supporting higher education for people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) and their immediate family members.

We are also proud to present Fradkin Legacy Awards to these outstanding members of the Dollars for Scholars volunteer network:

• North Tama (Iowa) Dollars for Scholars: Community Impact Award: When the chapter was established in 2019, one of their primary values was to provide impactful scholarships for students who needed them the most, particularly those going to community and technical colleges. Nearly half of North Tama Dollars for Scholars awards are designated specifically for students pursuing certifications—ensuring that students on all educational and career pathways are supported by their community.
• John Rodriguez, Worcester (Massachusetts) Latino Dollars for Scholars: Community Champion Award: John Rodriguez has been involved with Worcester Latino Dollars for Scholars (WLDS) since its founding, starting as a volunteer more than 30 years ago and serving as president since 1998. He is a tireless advocate for Worcester’s students and a source of support for families, providing community-centered expertise as they navigate the complex world of higher education.

To learn more about each of these deserving winners, visit the Scholarship America blog. And watch for our Digital Spotlight Series to see much more!

Presented with the generous sponsorship of: