Meet&CoARCADIA, Wis. – Ashley Furniture Inds. and the Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation have awarded $444,000 in educational scholarships to 151 students for the 2026-2027 academic year.
A portion of the funding comes through Ashley’s Grants-in-Aid scholarship program, which will distribute $170,000 among 85 students. The program is designed to assist high school seniors who are dependents of Ashley employees, as well as students who currently work for the company, with their educational expenses.
The Ronald & Joyce Wanek Foundation is providing an additional $274,000 in scholarships for 66 students. The awards are intended to support students pursuing education in fields related to innovation and industry, including automation, engineering, information technology, manufacturing and design.
Beyond financial assistance, the scholarship program also gives recipients an opportunity to learn more about the home furnishings industry. Selected students were invited to a scholarship presentation and tours of Ashley’s facilities, where they could see advanced manufacturing processes and technology firsthand while learning about potential career opportunities.
The scholarship initiative has supported students for nearly three decades. Since its launch in 1997, the program has provided approximately $4.2 million in educational support to more than 2,500 students, helping them continue their studies and prepare for their careers.
