The American Welding Society and the AWS Foundation established the largest original section-endowed scholarship in the Society's history in June.

The Lou DeFreitas $60,000 scholarship fund was endowed by the Santa Clara Valley (Calif.) Section, and will enable the AWS Foundation to award $3,000 in scholarships to welding students on an annual basis.

The AWS Foundation provides funding to students and supports programs to strengthen research and educational opportunities in welding and related fields. It will grant annual awards from the new scholarship to students in the Santa Clara Valley Section.