The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation awarded $30,000 in scholarships to employees or their dependents from Minnesota Grocers Association member companies for the 2021-22 school year. This program helps students who are related to Minnesota’s food industry by supporting their educational growth.
Using funds raised from an annual golf event and silent auction, the MGAF awards scholarships and community grants. This year, the MGA Foundation received 369 applications from 47 companies.
Each of the 30 $1,000 scholarships awarded represent the Minnesota food industry’s strong belief in the need for continued education. Since its inception, the foundation has awarded more than $950,000 in scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded by an impartial committee of educators and based on community involvement and academic achievements.
The 2021 MGAF Scholarship Winners are: Malory Anderson from Willie’s Super Valu, Hannah Barthel from Russ Davis Wholesale, Avery Constant from Jerry’s Enterprises Inc., Stephanie Dickerson from Central Market, Hanna Dorff from Olsen Fish Company, Isabella Forliti from Kowalski’s Cos. Inc., Kira Greenfield from Cub Foods, Samuel Groven from Lunds & Byerlys, Megan Hare from Old Dutch Foods Inc., Kiana Hawkinson from Ukura’s Big Dollar, Heidi Hutton from Faribault Foods, Mariah Iverson from Hugo’s Family Marketplace, Ethan Johnson from Kowalski’s Cos. Inc., Amelia Jutz from Jerry’s Enterprises Inc., Aidan Kaddatz from Coborn’s Inc., Megan Lynch from Lunds & Byerlys.
Also, Sophia Marschall from Hy-Vee, Simon Mathiowetz from Coborn’s Inc., Merlea Mrozik from Super One Foods, David Nunn from Coborn’s Inc., Brandon Ortendahl from Tom’s Market, Isabella Ortendahl from Tom’s Market, Silas Pelkie from KEMPS, Madison Pittorf from Lunds & Byerlys, Samuel Poncelet from Kwik Trip Inc., Samantha Quaal from SpartanNash, Gabriel Qualley from Brainerd Cub Foods, Easton Quast from Tersteeg’s Holiday Market, Cailey Schlosser from JC’s General Store and Cassidee Thorvig from Chris’ Food Center.
This year, the Piggyback Scholarship Program was available for members of the MGA, allowing companies to “piggyback” on the MGAF application process in order to provide a scholarship program specifically for their employees and employees’ dependents. Nine companies participated and awarded a combined $47,000 in scholarships to 54 students.
