Pest Management Foundation Announces Graycen Vargo Scholarship

FAIRFAX, Va. — The Pest Management Foundation has announced the establishment of the Graycen Vargo Excellence Award Scholarship, available beginning October 1, 2026.

Established in memory of Graycen Vargo, son of Dawnery Vargo, COO of VM Products, the award creates a lasting investment in education for those pursuing careers that contribute to the industry.

Graycen Vargo died unexpectedly April 24, during a track meet. Those close to Graycen remember him for his competitive drive, quiet leadership and dedication those around him. A student at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, Graycen competed on the university’s cross country and track and field teams. He received the Eagle Excellence Award for the positive impact he made across campus, among teammates and within the community.

Through the Pest Management Foundation’s Named Scholarship Program, friends, colleagues, family and members of the industry have surpassed the original $25,000 fundraising goal, with nearly $40,000 donated to date. Additional contributions will be used to increase the annual scholarship award to $2,000 per year.

“So grateful for this extraordinary response and thankful to the donors and the Pest Management Foundation for helping make this possible,” said Dawnery Vargo. “We are now close to funding a second $1,000 scholarship award in Graycen’s name.”

About the Graycen Vargo Excellence Award Scholarship

Award Amount: One award per year totaling $2,000

The Graycen Vargo Excellence Award was established to honor the life and legacy of Graycen Vargo. Graycen lived with an unmatched momentum. He brought energy and purpose into everything he did, especially athletics, where his competitive spirit and determination elevated those around him. While he was known for his resilience and refusal to back down from a challenge on the field, Graycen’s strength was not limited to his athleticism. It showed in his consistency, loyalty, and the way he showed up for the people he loved. This scholarship, made possible through generous contributions of those impacted by Graycen, will support students who share Graycen’s passions, values and his planned pursuits in life. 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Full-time student in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time as a high school senior or as a student at an accredited college, university or trade school.
• Preference given to those applicants actively involved in cross-country, track or baseball.
• Preference given to those applicants who demonstrate an intention to pursue a career in law, including plans to attend law school or to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree in a law-related field.

Application Requirements:

• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Current unofficial academic transcript.
• A one-page (minimum) essay describing the applicant’s professional goals and aspirations and how they plans to use their studies to contribute to their field of study.
• At least one letter of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s work ethic, academic progress and how they plan to use their studies to contribute to their field.
• Other supporting documents (research papers and proposals, faculty research participation, related industry internship participation, fellowship projects, industry work experience, etc.) can also be submitted.
• Recipients must commit to writing a letter of appreciation outlining how the scholarship has helped them in their academic endeavors.

Applications for all Foundation scholarships will open in October. Further details on applying for these scholarships can be found at www.NPMAFoundation.org. For more information about the Foundation and its scholarship program, visit NPMAFoundation.org or contact Mike Bentley at mbentley@pestworld.org.