Every year, the NPFDA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to five outstanding students who are enrolled full‐time pursuing an agriculture, poultry or food science (related) degree. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation was established in 1979. Since that time, the Foundation has awarded almost $230,000.00 in scholarships to outstanding students. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is entering its 39th year of assistance to help build "People Resources" for the poultry and food industries by providing scholarships to students pursuing an education in all fields relating to the poultry industry. It is the association’s goal to help students achieve their degree while encouraging future leaders in the food industry.

All land grant colleges and universities throughout the country, along with other qualified schools, receive full details of the scholarship program for circulation to those students who would qualify for consideration each winter for the upcoming academic year. Each student must complete an application, write an essay on their goals and ambitions, provide a letter of recommendation from a department head, dean and/or advisor, then submit these items along with their transcripts. The Foundation has a very dedicated committee who reviews each applicant’s submission. It is a long, arduous process where each student is individually evaluated by each committee member, on their goals and aspirations essay, their extracurricular activities and industry‐related activities in addition to GPA and letter of recommendation(s). The committee member ballots are compiled and the top five students are selected.

Cash awards go to the top five ($4,000 per student). The next student chosen is the alternate, should one of the award recipients not use all of his/her funds (i.e. early graduation).

This year, the Foundation received many exceptional applications.

2018‐2019 NPFDA Scholarship Winners:

  • Marci Ricklick, University of Wisconsin River Falls
  • Julia Maddock, Kansas State University
  • Peter Chiarelli, University of Florida

*ALTERNATE David Smith Louisiana State University

NPFDA Member Employees and Families Scholarship Winners:

  • Matison Grindle, Mar Jac Poultry, The University of Georgia
  • Helen Cheung, G&C Foods, University of Rhode Island

Students who are pursuing a degree in Poultry Science, Food Science, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, etc. are invited to apply for the scholarship. They may call or write NPFDA for scholarship information at: NPFDA, 2014 Osborne Rd, Saint Marys, GA 31558; PH: 770‐535‐9901, FAX: 770‐535‐7385; or e‐mail: info@npfda.org.

Source: NPFDA