MCLEAN, VA. - The Food Processing Suppliers Association’s Meat Industry Suppliers Alliance Foundation (MISA) announced on Aug. 3 that it awarded nine scholarships to meat science students.

“We are proud to announce the MISA Foundation Scholarship winners for the 2023-2024 school year,” said Kate Rome, chair of the MISA Foundation and president of Rome Grinding Solutions. “This year’s talented group of applicants was outstanding, and we are honored to be able to assist these exceptional people in their continuing education. The Foundation Board congratulates these winners and looks forward to seeing how each one will contribute to moving our industry forward in the future. I would also like to thank FPSA [Food Processing Suppliers Association] members and participants of the FPSA Auction whose donations and contributions are critical to funding this scholarship program.”

The scholarship winners include Jake Bagby, Texas Tech University; Megan Eckhardt, West Texas A&M University; Zachary Hoelscher, Texas A&M University; Meagan McMurray, Texas Tech University; Taylor McKinzie, Texas Tech University; Andres Mendizabal, Texas Tech University; Courtney Newman, University of Wyoming; Laura Reiling, Texas A&M University; and Abbey Schiefelbein, Colorado State University.

“The MISA Scholarship is FPSA’s oldest, and perhaps most prominent ‘Giving Back’ program,” said David Seckman, president and chief executive officer of FPSA. “During the many years of supporting research in the meat sciences discipline, the MISA Scholarship has been instrumental in supporting the meat industry, which ultimately benefits from the lessons and innovations that these promising students develop in their studies.”

The annual FPSA Auction helps fund the scholarship program. The next auction is scheduled for March 27, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif.