N.J. Food Council Reveals Scholarship Winners

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) has named the recipients of its 2012 Education Development Scholarships. The Trenton-based trade association created the program to promote future leaders and support the food industry, as recommended by the NJFC trade relations committee. According to council president Linda Doherty, “The NJFC program grants three scholarships each year that will allow us to provide an important member benefit and invest in the future of NJFC families.”

The Thomas Infusino Scholarship went to Giana Tarpey of St. Joseph’s University, who works summers at Middletown-based Food Circus Supermarkets; the Founders Scholarship went to Christopher Seigel of Rowan University, who is employed by Thorofare-based Heritage's Dairy Stores; and the Student Scholarship went to Gregory Mastricova of Felician College, whose father, Joseph Mastricova, works for Cargill Inc., which has various locations in the Garden State.

Additionally, for the first time this year, a new scholarship award was created by Robert Spires, president and CEO of inSpire Inc. in Ocean City, N.J., and Judy Spires, CEO of Parsippany, N.J.-based Kings Super Markets Inc. This award went to Joseph Trumbetti, a recent graduate of Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, N.J., who will be attending Johns Hopkins University in the fall. His mother, Ann Marie Trumbetti, is a Kings employee.

“The Spires Scholarship establishes a member precedent of funding individual company scholarships under the banner of the NJFC Scholarship Program,” said Doherty. “We are excited and encouraged by the potential impact of this generous act by Bob and Judy Spires, and hope other member families and companies pursue this educational funding opportunity structured within the NJFC program.”

Added Doherty: “NJFC received more than 120 applications for consideration. The selection committee was overwhelmingly impressed with the number and quality of applications. Our scholarship winners and all applicants are a shining example of the youth of today and their goals to succeed in today’s competitive business climate.”

Each recipient will receive a $2,000 scholarship check at the NJFC Trade Relations Conference to scheduled for June 6-7 at The Borgata in Atlantic City. The program features Jeff Reagan, SVP, corporate merchandising, advertising and nonperishables at Keasbey, N.J.-based Wakefern Food Corp.

For registration information, call NJFC event coordinator Anne-Lorraine Sweeney at 609-392-8899.