MCLEAN, VA. — From a pool of 238 applicants, the Foundation of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FFPSA or FPSA Foundation) has selected 20 individuals to receive its 2023-2024 Career Development Scholarships. The FPSA expanded the program this year, attracting nearly 50% more applicants and raising the award amount to $10,000 per scholarship.

“In an effort to further strengthen our support of the academic achievement of colleagues and family members, this year the FPSA Foundation proudly increased the number of scholarships from 15 to 20 while also doubling the amount of the scholarship from $5,000 to $10,000,” said Jarrod McCarroll, chairman of the FPSA Foundation and chief executive officer of Weber, Inc.

Recipients of this year’s scholarships were:

  • Alaina Broughton (Ace Sanitary)
  • Elijah O’Connor (Grote Company)
  • Helena Bohmann (Alfa Laval, Inc.)
  • Mayank Raghuwanshi (Intralox, LLC)
  • Charles Konkolics (The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company)
  • Christina Bencin (PSC/C.A. Litzler Co.)
  • Matthew Croke (Cybertrol Engineering)
  • Braewyn Arceneaux (Intralox, LLC)
  • Kaelyn Schreiner (JBT Corp.)
  • Kaitlyn Drake (Scan American Corp.)
  • Sofia Minutoli (The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company)
  • Louis Klemp (Weber, Inc.)
  • Chase Hartley (Alfa Laval, Inc.)
  • Reagan Carlton (PFI)
  • Jacqueline Park (Dennis Group)
  • Lucas Bowie (Multivac, Inc.)
  • Paul Clegg (Multivac, Inc.)
  • Brooklynn Nieland (Festo Corporation)
  • Aistis Boertje (Festo Corporation)
  • Elisabeth Wilson (Urschel Laboratories, Inc.)

Established in 2005, the FFPSA’s Career Development Scholarship Program aims to provide financial support to full-time employees of FPSA’s member companies, as well as their immediate family members, in their pursuit of career and professional development opportunities.

“For years, the Career Development Scholarship program has provided valuable assistance in helping promising students to reach their goals,” McCarroll said. “We’re proud to be able to expand this program for applicants this year and for many years to come. We congratulate the winners on their achievements and look forward to where they will take these skills in what are sure to be successful careers.”

Since the FFPSA was founded, it has assisted more than 2,000 early-stage food industry professionals through scholarships, stipends and grants. According to the FPSA, many recipients are now working at major food and beverage companies — including FPSA member companies — and many others are employed at university food, dairy and meat science programs across the United States.

“We encourage all eligible individuals to apply again when the application period for the 2024-2025 academic year opens in January 2024,” McCarroll said.

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