FMI Foundation Presents Food Systems Auditing Scholarships

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Foundation has awarded 10 scholarships to students pursuing careers in food systems auditing. The recipients were among 27 applicants competing for $30,000 in scholarships and a trip to the SQF International Conference in Indianapolis, where scholarship winners have the opportunity to network with 650-plus food industry professionals.

The scholarships recognize university students currently enrolled as food and agricultural science majors who plan to work as accredited food safety auditors. The successful candidates possess academic ability, leadership potential, motivation and initiative, as well as a passion for the food industry and the auditing profession, according to FMI Foundation.

Accepting their grants on Nov. 3 during the SQF conference were John Fox, Iowa State University; Jabari Hawkins, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Raghavendra Kakarala, Oklahoma State; Lisa Lafountain, North Carolina State University; Robson Machado, Pennsylvania State University; Katelyn Ortega, Texas Tech University; Abigail Snyder, Cornell University; Weber Stibolt, University of Delaware; Amanda Wilder, Kansas State University; and Praveen Yerramsetti, Oklahoma State.

"These rising stars hail from amazing academic institutions that respect the science and practice of food systems auditing," said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based FMI and president of the FMI Foundation.

"It's an exciting time to be in the food industry, because the regulatory environment is demanding more attention to the technical side of the food chain," noted Robert Garfield, SVP of Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI. “These exceptional young professionals are choosing a career in food systems auditing because they recognize the opportunities ahead and decided to ride this wave of tidal transformation in the food industry."

The SQF International Conference runs through Nov. 5.