NPFDA Scholarship Foundation

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Since 1979, the National Protein & Food Distributors Association Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships to dependents and employees of member companies.  The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation's Federal EIN is 47-0640579.  2026 W-9 available for download.  Download the 2025 NPFDA Scholarship Foundation Annual Report.

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2027 Applications Coming this Fall for Undergraduate, Technical, and Graduate Students

The National Protein & Food Distributors Association's Scholarship Foundation is pleased to offer the opportunity for a scholarship award to children/dependents or employees of NPFDA member companies. The selection process is blind - identifying information is redacted by staff before being evaluated by the Selection Committee. Each scholarship recipient will receive a $5,000 award. Funds are distributed directly to a college, university, or technical school. 

To qualify, each applicant must:

• Be an employee of an NPFDA member company or the child/dependent of an employee of an NPFDA member company.

• Be enrolled full-time at a US-based college, university, or technical school OR be a high school senior.

• Graduate students must use the graduate school application below.

• Be pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or technical school degree.

• Upload a recent transcript.  

• Complete the online application. 

• Provide a "goals and aspirations" essay. Submission of the essay may be typed in the form or attached. Please refrain from using AI-assisted tools for the essay portion.

• Provide a letter of recommendation from an advisor or mentor who is not a family member. 

No new applications will be considered after 5:00 pm ET, Friday, April 10, 2026

1. Undergraduate application for currently enrolled college students or high school seniors.
2. Graduate School application for currently enrolled or accepted graduate school students.
3. Technical College | Trade School application for currently enrolled students or high school seniors.

If you have questions, please email wendy "@" npfda.org.

2026 Named Scholarship Donor Companies

• House of Raeford Farms - matching donation
• Shuler Meats
• D & Z Sales (formerly D & H Marketing)
• Carolina Precision
• Mountaire Farms
• Fieldale Farms/Springer Mountain Farms
• Quirch Foods
• Foodlinx
• Jones Poultry
• East Bay Poultry
• Lamex Foods
• Foodlink Group
• Lawrence Wholesale

2026 Additional Scholarship Donor Companies

• E.J. Poultry
• Eastern Quality Foods
• Environ Energy
• House of Raeford Farms
• Powell Management Group LLC
• Simmons Foods
• Integrity Foods
• Diversified Foods, LLC

2026 Scholarship Foundation Recipients

June 20, 2026 – The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation awarded $200,000 in scholarships to forty-four outstanding students. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation was established in 1979.

Eligible applicants are employees of NPFDA member companies or dependents of an employee of an NPFDA member company enrolled full-time at a US-based college or university or a graduating high school senior pursuing a college degree in the fall or attending graduate school.

The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation’s Selection Committee reviewed applicant submissions. Each submission was evaluated on the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendation letter, and GPA - ballots were tallied, and the top  forty-four students were awarded $5,000 each.

2026 Undergraduate Scholars 

• Morgan R. Arterburn - Clemson University - House of Raeford Farms 
• Sullivan Banks-Gilmore - The University of Texas at Austin - Marcus Food Co. 
• Daniela M. Botello - University of Georgia - Filet of Chicken | House of Raeford Farms 
• Jillian G. Burke - Mercer University - Quirch Foods 
• Alivia G. Chasten - North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University - House of Raeford Farms 
• Kadyn Claborn - Luther College - Simmons Foods 
• Ashley Clark - University of New Hampshire - G&C Foods 
• John E. Cook - Salisbury University - Perdue Agribusiness 
• Jaedon D. Cummings - University of Southern Florida – Quirch Foods 
• Jacob Davis - ECU or NC State - House of Raeford Farms 
• Jackson Downs - University of North Carolina - Prestige Farms 
• Elise M. Fripp - Saint Mary’s College of California - Foster Farms 
• Jahaziel Gomez - Florida State University - Quirch Foods 
• Emily Hernandez - University of West Georgia – Tip Top Poultry  
• Ava Jurek - University of Notre Dame - Koch Foods 
• Morgan Koon - Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College - Koch Foods 
• Paige R. Kuntschik - Lonestar College - Holmes Foods 
• Camden Lemon - Salisbury University - Perdue Farms Inc. 
• Joelee A. Lester - Texas AM University - Holmes Foods Inc. 
• Ellie Nelson - University of Mary - Bay & Bay Transportation 
• Kaylee E. Neuschwander - Auburn University - Stams Family Foods 
• Caden Nolan - Belmont Abbey College - House of Raeford Farms 
• Katryanna M. Obringer - The Ohio State University - Case Farms 
• Lily K. Osborne - Rowan-Cabarrus Community College - D&Z Marketing Group 
• Sloan M. Pettus - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Prestige Farms 
• Max D. Pridgen - Georgia Southern University - House of Raeford Farms 
• Carmen I. Puentes - University of Tennessee at Martin - DeGroot Logistics Inc. 
• Mason T. Pusey - Methodist University - Perdue Farms Inc. 
• Jaylin M. Rodriguez - University of Miami - Quirch Foods 
• Ella Sharp - University of Florida - Kelly's Foods 
• Jackson M. Simmons - West Virginia University - Environ Energy 
• Brayden Smith - Waynesburg University – Pilgrim’s 
• Annasten Solik - Northwest Arkansas Community College - Simmons Foods 
• Mia Steigmeyer - Ball State University - Quickfreeze 
• Turner J. Thomas - Appalachian State University - House of Raeford Farms 
• Ethan Torres - Miami Dade College Kendall Campus - Quirch Foods 
• Eduardo M. Torres - University of Georgia - House of Raeford Farms 
• Sam Tucker - University of Georgia - Tip Top Poultry 
• Alexis A. Walker - University of Florida - Pilgrim's 
• Valaja J. Wallace - North Carolina A&T State University - Butterball (Seaboard Corp.) 

2026 Graduate School Scholars 

• K. Valeria Casco - Auburn University - Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University 
• Erasmo A. Flores Granados - Auburn University - Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University 
• Andrew C. Reynolds – University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill - House of Raeford Farms  
• Katherine Sofia Sierra - Auburn University - Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University 

Thank you videos from 2025 recipients on NPFDAtv