This year's recipients are:

• Heidi Cerrud (Panama), Procurement Officer-Regional Logistics Unit International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
• Gabriella Toro (Venezuela), Lean Manufacturing Coordinator for Dana Venezuela
• Bublu Sarbani Thakur-Weigold (Germany), Supply Chain Management Consultant, Innovation Diffusion for Hewlett-Packard
• Alec Ang (Singapore), Supply Chain Logistics Director, Asia Pacific for DHL International

"It's truly an honor to be chosen for this opportunity," said Cerrud. "Through my participation in the EMIL Program, I expect to grow as a logistician, better enabling me to support Red Cross/Red Crescent's relief operations to disaster victims."

"The EMIL Scholarship winners have each demonstrated exceptional dedication and industry expertise over the course of their careers," said John Vande Vate, EMIL Executive Director. "It's this continued cross-pollination of professional expertise and international perspectives that makes EMIL the most unique logistics masters program in the world."

To qualify, scholarship applicants had to reside and do-business in Asia-Pacific, Latin America or Europe, as well as be admitted to EMIL as a degree-seeking student with program start date of at least February 2004. Scholarship applicants were required to have demonstrated career success, a clear potential for leadership and a desire to fully participate in EMIL's intense educational experience.

The 18-month masters program keeps employees on-the-job while teaching them practical techniques for decreasing logistics costs and improving supply chain efficiencies.

By Brian Albright, Frontline Solutions magazine