Linda Doherty, President of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), announced the winners of the 2017 Education Development Scholarship Awards and a special Scholarship Reception will be held in their honor in April. NJFC created an Educational Scholarship Program to promote future leaders and support the food industry as recommended by the NJFC Trade Relations Committee. This year, 20 member scholarships were awarded totaling $67,000. Doherty stated, “We are pleased and proud that the scholarship program is growing and flourishing. This is by far the most since the program’s inception. We have come so far in the past seven years from three $2,000 scholarships to this robust investment today. It allows us to provide an important member benefit and to invest in the future of NJFC families and our dynamic industry.
Doherty added, “NJFC received 124 applications for consideration. The Selection Committee was overwhelmingly impressed with the number and quality of applications. Our scholarship winners and all applicants are a shining example of the youth of today and their goals to succeed in today’s competitive business climate.”
The following scholarships were awarded this year:
- NJFC Founders Scholarship Award – An award of $5,000 to an employee in a food related member business or future industry leader.
Recipient: Erich Ballard, Wegmans Food Markets, TCNJ (Junior)
- NJFC Student Award – An award of $5,000 to a graduating high school senior or college student who is a family member of a full time employee, NJFC employee or part-time student employee.
Recipient: Dana Schmeltzle, QuickChek Corporation, North Carolina State University (Sophomore)
- NJFC Thomas Infusino Scholarship Award – An award of $5,000 to one employee in a retail member business.
Recipient: Ruth Fiore, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, NJIT (Freshman)
- Acme Food Markets Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Acme Food Markets.
Recipient: Victoria Blankenbiller, Acme Markets, Mercer County Community College (Freshman)
- CBA Industries Scholarship – An award of $2.500 to an employee or family member employed at CBA Industries or an NJFC Retail Food Market.
Recipient: Andrew Easterwood, CBA Industries, Georgia Southern University (Senior)
- CBA Industries Scholarship – An award of $2.500 to an employee or family member employed at CBA Industries or an NJFC Retail Food Market.
Recipient: Kacie Meyer, CBA Industries, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Freshman)
- Cuellar Family ShopRites Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Cuellar Family ShopRites.
Recipient: Manthan Gandhi, Cuellar Family ShopRites, NJIT (Junior)
- Lawrence R. Inserra Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member of Inserra Supermarkets.
Recipient: Ariana DiPietrantonio, Inserra Supermarkets, Undecided (Freshman)
- Raymond J. Maniaci Memorial Scholarship – An award of $8,000 to a food marketing major student at Saint Joseph’s University.
Recipient: Jared Kolakowski, Perlmutter ShopRite, St. Joseph’s University (Freshman)
- QuickChek Corporation Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to an employee or family member employed at QuickChek Corporation.
Recipient: Yasmine Elasmar, QuickChek Corporation, Undecided (Freshman)
- Grace Scaduto Memorial Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a student chosen by the Scaduto family.
Recipient: Ruth Fiore, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, NJIT (Freshman)
- Spires Family Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to a Kings associate or family member chosen by the Spires family.
Recipient: Michael Napolitano, Kings Food Markets, Northeastern University (Junior)
- Spires Family Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to a Kings associate or family member chosen by the Spires family.
Recipient: Molly Tompson, Kings Food Markets, Penn State University (Sophomore)
- Perry Sumas Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to a student chosen by the Sumas family.
Recipient: Kacie Meyer, ShopRite of Manahawkin, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Freshman)
- Wawa Education Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member employed at Wawa.
Recipient: Eun Kyung Jeon, Wawa, Northeastern University (Freshman)
- Whole Foods Market Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
Recipient: Addrisa Ankrah, Whole Foods Market, Montclair State University (Senior)
- Whole Foods Market Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
Recipient: Allyssa Farino, Whole Foods Market, Hunter College (Junior)
- Whole Foods Market Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
Recipient: Melissa Gonzalez, Whole Foods Market, Laguardia CUNY (Freshman)
- Whole Foods Market Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
Recipient: Ruth Gadsden, Whole Foods Market, CUNY-City College (Sophomore)
- Whole Foods Market Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
Recipient: Lorraine Martinez, Whole Foods Market, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Junior)
Each recipient will be presented with a scholarship check at a special reception held on April 4, 2017 at the Forsgate Country Club, Monroe Township, NJ.
The New Jersey Food Council is the Garden State’s preeminent trade association representing almost 400 members serving the retail, wholesale and manufacturing segments of the New Jersey food distribution industry.