With funds raised from an annual golf event and silent auction, the Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) Foundation has awarded $37,500 in scholarships to 25 employees or their dependents from member companies for the 2023-24 school year.
In addition, the Piggyback Scholarship Program made available to MGA members allowed nine companies to award $53,000 in scholarships to 54 students.
This year, the MGA Foundation received 188 applications from 52 companies. Scholarship recipients were determined by an impartial committee of educators and based on community involvement and academic achievement.
The 25 $1,500 scholarships will go to the following:
- Bennett’s Food Center – Alese Ihrke and Abigail Meyer;
- DoMat’s Family Foods – Tyler Hanson;
- Coborn’s Inc. – Grace Langfield;
- Cub Foods – Marshall Christensen, Cameron Fenner and Alexis Schweiss;
- Jerry’s Enterprises Inc. – Satoria Swenson;
- Kemps – Zach Peterson;
- KLN Family Brands – Todd Thompson;
- Kowalski’s Companies Inc. – Britte Ryden and Emma Zimmer;
- Kubiak’s Family Foods – Erin Myhrer
- Kwik Trip Inc. – Braxton Osterhaus;
- Lunds & Byerlys – Taylor Bergstrom and Max Rain;
- Miller’s Market – Kaitlynn Chuchna;
- Miner’s Inc. – Holland Venhuizen;
- Russ Davis Wholesale – Lexi Loberg, Kayla Meeks and Nicole Osness;
- SpartanNash – Cassidy Boeckermann;
- St. Joseph Meat Market – Cecilia McNair;
- Teal’s Market – Joel Eisenschenk; and
- Zup’s Food Market – Hannah Kinsey.
The Piggyback Scholarship recipients include:
- Chris’ Food Center – Peter Champion and Cassidee Thorvig.
- Cub Foods – Trevor Lamberg, Meagan Phillips, Carter Reimer, Alex Vang and Mason Young.
- Jerry’s Enterprises Inc. – Avery Constant, Skyler Dargis, Joseph Erickson, Emily Gillett, Alexa Gordner, Jenna Hanson, Amelia Jutz, Dylan Kolman, Michael Krueger, Anastasia Ledyaeva, McKenna Miska, Alexis Schweiss, Jack St. George, Joseph St. George and Satoria Swenson.
- Jim Kowalski Education Scholarship – Drew Bigelbach, Michelle Borodich, Kalista Borsch, Piper Borsch, Paige Hendry, Alex Kozicki, Megan Matara, Jack Nelson, Anna Perron, Arthur Perron, Kathleen Piepkorn and Tiffany Stevens.
- Kemps – Peyton Bills, Ryan Hulke, Graham Johnson, Ethan Mediger, Peter Nguyen and Taylor Tedford.
- Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Scholarship – Ella Swanson.
- Miner’s Inc. Achievement Scholarship – Katelynn Aho, Joseph Eklund, Abigail Halvorson, Alec Misiewicz, Emerson Roseen and Savana Sattler.
- S&R Quisberg Inc. – Amelia Dvorak, Olivia Nichols and Sophia Nordby.
- Teal’s Management Scholarship – Grace Bergeron, Joel Eisenschenk, Jazmin Fuentes and Savannah Hill.
Founded more than 125 years ago, MGA is one of the oldest trade associations in the state. It boasts some 300 retail, manufacturers and wholesale members supporting about 1,300 locations. The MGA Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships since its inception in 1992.
Last year, the MGA Foundation awarded $30,000 to 30 students.
