MILWAUKEE - The American Society for Quality (ASQ) recently awarded its 2008 Richard A. Freund International Scholarship to Amar Thiraviam, Daytona Beach, FL. This $5,000 scholarship, named after a past ASQ president, supports a quality professional’s graduate studies.

The Richard A. Freund International Scholarship honors the memory of Richard A. Freund, a past president of the American Society for Quality (1972-73). Freund was recognized internationally for his contributions to quality, international goodwill, and tireless scholarship. During his 34-year career with Eastman Kodak Company, he played a key role in molding the direction of its quality effort.

Awarded annually for the past 12 years, the scholarship supports a candidate’s graduate study of the theory and application of quality control, quality assurance, quality improvement, and total quality management. It covers the engineering, statistical, managerial, and behavioral foundations of those fields. The scholarship is offered to members and nonmembers worldwide. Study may take place in one’s own country or in another country.

The annual scholarship is funded through a gift of $100,000 that was made to ASQ by Freund’s widow, with instructions that ASQ shall administer it. Scholarship applications are received no later than April 1 of each year, with the award being made by June 1 of each year. The approximate amount of the yearly award is $5,000.

The scholarship is given to a student who is planning to enroll, or already is enrolled, in a master’s degree or higher level program that focuses on quality engineering, total quality management, quality control, quality assurance, quality improvement, or a similar quality emphasis at any university or college. Candidates must provide documentation they’ve been accepted into an appropriate program.