Asparagus Club Reveals 2010-11 College Scholarship Recipients

The Asparagus Club and The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) have awarded the Asparagus Club college scholarships for the 2010-2011 academic year.

“We congratulate [the recipients] on their tremendous achievement, and wish them luck as they pursue their future endeavors, both academic and in the food and grocery industry,” noted Jerry Fleagle, president of the Asparagus Club and the Urbandale-based Iowa Grocery Industry Association.

The scholarships are one-year awards of up to $3,000, for as long as two years. The awards may be used at any accredited, nonprofit U.S. college or university for students entering their junior or senior year of college or graduate school. This year’s recipients are Lindsay Fitzpatrick, St. Joseph’s University; Nicholas Martino, St. Joseph’s University; Deidre Mihalik, St. Joseph’s University; Amanda Plant, St. Joseph’s University; Alessandra Tarantino, St. Joseph’s University; and Jenna Mefford, a second-year recipient, Michigan State University.

Additionally, Plant will receive the Thomas K. Zaucha Scholarship, given to the outstanding scholarship applicant in honor of the N.G.A.’s past president and CEO. A junior majoring in food marketing, Plant is also a student employee in the food marketing department, an ambassador in the Food Marketing Student Ambassador Program, and a member of the Food Committee for the Hand-in-Hand Organization.

“Amanda is committed to a food marketing career and is an excellent student,” said Dr. John Stanton, professor and chairman of the Department of Food Marketing at St. Joseph’s University.

Since 1990, the Asparagus Club Scholarship Program has provided more than $850,000 in scholarships to students preparing for grocery careers. In only the past five years, club has given more than $100,000 to young people eager to join the industry.

Scholarship applications for the 2011-2012 academic year will be available on Jan. 20. To recommend any candidates in college pursuing a career in the food industry, particularly the independent community-focused retail or wholesale sectors, contact Helen Lowery at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation at [email protected] or Kim Robinson at Arlington, Va.-based N.G.A. at [email protected].

The Asparagus Club membership comprises retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and state association executives dedicated to the future of the grocery industry.