SPECIALTY FOOD ASSOCIATION GRANTS SCHOLARSHIPS

BARBARA MURRAY

CHICAGO -- The Specialty Food Distributors and Manufacturers Association here has granted $1,500 in scholarships to 30 students for the 2000-2001 school year.

The SFDMA, formerly known as NFDA, established its scholarship program in 1990 as an expression of appreciation and a service to its members. Since its inception, the program has provided $269,000 in scholarship funds to eligible high school seniors and college students whose parents are full-time employees of SFDMA member companies.

Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of academic merit, extracurricular activities and financial need. The selection committee is administered through a third party to ensure the integrity of the program.

This committee was comprised of financial-aid admissions officers, counselors and educators. More than 400 requests for applications were received. Money raised for this year's scholarships came from SFDMA general funds, SFDMA Manufacturers' Council funds and proceeds from the SFDMA Golf Tournament.

Some of the scholarship winners are associated with the following member companies: Black Mountain Gold Coffee; Brede; Cannizzaro's Distributing Co.; Concept Foods; Dean Pickle & Specialty Products; Gourmet Award Foods Great Lakes, North Central and South Texas; Hormel Foods; Kehe Food Distributors; Krinos Foods; Parmalat; R.C. Bigelow; Renfro Foods; Sargento Foods; Snyders of Hanover; Tree of Life Midwest; and Vista Bakery.