Advanced Textiles Association and North Carolina State University are excited to announce the creation of the Advanced Textiles Association Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship Endowment, which will support textiles student development at NC State’s Wilson College of Textiles and promotion of the textiles industry as a rewarding and valuable career path.  Funding for this Endowment comes from the remaining assets in the Industrial Fabrics Foundation (IFF), as well as a pledge from ATA to fund annually for the next few years. Then, with matching funds from NC State donors, this endowment becomes a perpetual fund into the future. 
 

“On behalf of our members, ATA is pleased to provide this scholarship to textiles students. Our industry is in need of workforce development and our hope is that this scholarship is a part of that development.” said Steve Schiffman, President and CEO of ATA. 
 

This ATA Scholarship Endowment will be used to provide need-based scholarships for undergraduate students enrolled in the Wilson College of Textiles. The scholarship will live in perpetuity, providing a $3,000 scholarship to a textiles student every year. ATA has plans to help match member companies with candidates for internship and employment opportunities, via this scholarship endowment, our Career Center, and other future efforts. 
 

“We are very grateful for the Advanced Textiles Association’s investment in the next generation of textile leaders,” said David Hinks, dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “This newly established Advanced Textiles Association Extraordinary Opportunity Scholarship will further our college’s commitment to making a world-class textiles education accessible to those who have extraordinary potential and also financial need. Our successful partnership with the ATA is rooted in our shared commitment to ensuring that the US textiles industry is bold and innovative and rooted in equity and inclusivity.” 
 

Scholarship recipients will also be provided with professional development opportunities to learn, discover and innovate within the college’s state-of-the-art facilities.