The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation awarded $50,000 in scholarships to employees or their dependents from MGA member companies for the 2024-25 school year. This program helps students related to Minnesota’s food industry by supporting their educational growth.
Using funds raised from an annual golf event and silent auction, the MGAF is able to award scholarships and community grants. This year, the MGAF received 248 applications from 34 companies. The 25 $2,000 scholarships awarded represent the Minnesota food industry’s belief in the need for continued education. Since its inception in 1992, the foundation has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships.
Scholarships are awarded by an impartial committee of educators and based on community involvement and academic achievements.
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The 2024 MGAF Scholarship winners are:
- ALDI Inc. – Cian Verbridge;
- Almich’s Market – Drew Almich;
- Coborn’s Inc. – Nicola De Jager, Ariana Dix and Nicholas Sakry;
- Cub Foods – Hannah Gelineau and Ahmed Hassan;
- Doug’s Supermarket – Kaylee Hoy;
- Fareway Meat and Grocery – Noah Davis;
- Jerry’s Enterprises, Inc. – Jordyn Blenkush, Arika Miller and Satoria Swenson;
- Kevin’s Market – Alyssa Lange and Isabelle Wawrzynaik;
- KEMPS – Simon Bennett;
- Kowalski’s Companies Inc. – Carolyn Wohlers and Emma Zimmer;
- Lunds & Byerlys – Samantha Armitage, Kiera O’Rourke and Charlotte Thompson;
- Mackenthun’s Fine Foods – Rocco Pozega;
- Miner’s Inc. – Carlie Blevins, Allison Kircher and Paxtyn Misiewicz; and
- Russ Davis Wholesale – Nicole Osness.
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 $58,750 in scholarships to 51 students:
- Chris’ Food Center – Hannah Hartl and Teddy Mans;
- Cub Foods – Cayden Hansen, Abigail Hutchinson, Carter Laventure, Sarah Ripka and Morgan Ukestad;
- Jerry’s Enterprises Inc. – Jordyn Blenkush, Avery Constant, Skyler Dargis, Matthew Gill, Phoebe Johnson, Brayden Kovanda, Wendy Mendoza Gutierrez, Arika Miller, Carter Schulke, Alexis Schweiss, Satoria Swenson, Renee Vanderwerff and Jessica Willy;
- Jim Kowalski Education Scholarship – Piper Borsch, Amaza Burggraaff, Anabella Fortuna, Luke Gorham, Westin Impola, Averie Martin, Sophia Matara, Jack Ormseth, Arthur Perron, Ethan Phillippi, Hayley Settem and Tiffany Stevens;
- KEMPS – Joie Gaustad, Ethan Mediger, Andrea Penning, Zach Peterson, Britain Pink and Beau Wadle;
- Mackenthun’s Fine Foods – Lucy Arganbright and Blake Iverson;
- Miner’s Inc. Achievement Scholarships – Rachel Collins, Scott Leslie, Alec Misiewicz, Merlea Mrozik and Morgan Vinar;
- Pearl & George Teal Scholarship – Grace Bergeron, Jenna Bryant, Jacoby Hunt, Alivia Overman and Martha Weinrich; and
- S & R Qusberg Inc. – Olivia Nichols.
The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation was established in 1992 to offer educational opportunities to the food industry, provide scholarships to employees of member companies or their children, and support community efforts and initiatives through grants.
