Raleigh, NC (September 7, 2012) – The Board of Directors of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) is pleased to announce the award of scholarships to four doctoral students. A Riethmiller/PTR Baler and Compactor doctoral scholarship was given to Kaitlyn Sniffen, Drexel University. The Riethmiller scholarship is named in honor of current EREF Board member Robert J. Riethmiller and his company. Doctoral candidates Stephanie Bolyard, University of Central Florida, Grace Schwartz, Duke University and Paige Wilson, Colorado State University received EREF scholarships. The award of these four scholarships brings the total number of active EREF scholars to 12. This is the largest number of active scholars EREF has had in its history. Details on the new scholars and their topics of research are described below.