Contact (s): Nick George, President
608-255-9946
Nick.George@mwfpa.org
or
Brian Elliott, Dir. of Communications
608-255-9946
Brian.Elliott@mwfpa.org
The Midwest Food Processors Association (MWFPA) has awarded $9,000 in scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in agriculture or food science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the University of Wisconsin- Platteville, and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Three students were chosen to each receive $1,500 from the Carlton A. Friday Scholarship Fund for the 2017-18 school year. They are Abigail Solum of Rice Lake, Wisconsin who is attending UW-River Falls, Erin Marchant from Darlington, Wisconsin and Madeline Bode of Cassville, Wisconsin, both who are attending UW-Platteville.
The MWFPA also selected the following three students, one attending UW- Platteville and the other two from UW- Madison and UW-River Falls respectively to receive $1,500 from the Kenneth G. Weckel Scholarship Fund for the 2017-18 school year. They are: Elizabeth Martino of Janesville, Wisconsin, Johnathan Sogin of St. Paul, Minnesota, Anna Lucht from Whitewater, Wisconsin.
The scholarship winners have been invited to attend the MWFPA’s 113th Annual Convention and 90th Food Processing Crops Conference, one of the largest and most established food processing gatherings in the Midwest. It will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2017 through Thursday, November 30, 2017 at the Mayo Center in Rochester, Minnesota.
“The MWFPA recognizes the vital role played by agriculture and the food products industry in the Midwest economy,” said MWFPA president Nick George. “These scholarships help students to continue their education and support the growth of these two major industries. We are proud to support these promising students who will play an important role in shaping the future of agriculture and food manufacturing,” he added.
The two scholarship programs were created by the MWFPA in honor of leaders in the food processing industry. The Kenneth G. Weckel Scholarship is named for a University of Wisconsin food science professor who contributed greatly to the advancement of vegetable and fruit processing through his research and teaching. The other scholarship is named for Carleton A. Friday whose family founded the Friday Canning Company of New Richmond, Wisconsin.
Scholarship applicants are evaluated on recommendations submitted by an employer in addition to a school faculty member or advisor, and a letter of interest submitted by the applicant. Academic achievement and financial need are also considered.
