ArcBest announces scholarship program for dependents of employees

Fort Smith-based ArcBest has partnered with Scholarship America to create the first Employee Dependent Scholarship Program for the shipping and logistic company’s more than 15,000 employees.

The program offers $2,000 per academic year, and 10 students were selected to receive the inaugural scholarship based on their academic record, leadership and participation in school and community activities, statement of educational and career goals, and financial need, according to an ArcBest statement. More than 60 students applied for the inaugural scholarship.

Recipients can earn up to $8,000 by renewing their scholarship each academic year for up to three years or until a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) is completed. Students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average in full-time course studies and complete at least 24 semester hours during the preceding academic year.

“We’re excited about partnering with Scholarship America to continue investing in our employees and their children through financial support for higher education,” Erin Gattis, ArcBest chief human resources officer, said in a statement. “One of ArcBest’s core values is Growth, and it focuses on growing our people and our business. That extends to our employees’ homes and communities. Through this new partnership, we’re helping students access the education they want and empowering them to achieve their career aspirations.”

The scholarship program is available to dependent children of full-time employees in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who have worked for the company at least three years. The program excludes dependents of department directors and above.

The company said the scholarship program was created based on employee feedback and it allgns with the company’s “Philanthropic Pillar of Education, which guides how ArcBest invests in local and higher education to help grow the current and future workforce.”

Following are the 10 students who the Scholarship America program evaluated to become the first recipients.
Aubrey Taylor, University of Kansas
Clare Allison, Edgewood College
Eleanor Gordon, University of Texas at Austin
Emily Lockey, Rochester Christian University
Hannah Stanley, Atlanta Technical College
Jami Kurth, Carroll University
Lillian Murray, Folsom Lake Community College
Liset Vallejo, Friends University
Mary Mungroo, The College of New Jersey
Michelle Fernandini, Florida State University

ArcBest has around 15,000 employees at 250 locations. ABF Freight, the largest subsidiary, is a less-than-truckload carrier. On Feb. 6, the company reported a full-year net income of $195.433 million, down 34.4% compared with $298.209 million in 2022. Revenue in 2023 totaled $4.427 billion, down 12% compared with $5.029 billion in 2022.