Every year, the NPFDA Scholarship Foundation awards scholarships to five outstanding students who are enrolled full-time pursuing an agriculture, poultry or food science (related) degree. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation was established in 1979. Since that time, the Foundation has awarded almost $250,000 in scholarships to outstanding students. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation, Inc. is entering its 38th year of assistance to help build "People Resources" for the poultry and food industries by providing scholarships to students pursuing an education in all fields relating to the poultry industry. It is our goal not only to help students achieve their degrees, but to help students who may become effective leaders in our industry one day.
All land grant colleges and universities throughout the country, along with other qualified schools, receive full details of the scholarship program for circulation to those students who would qualify for consideration each winter for the upcoming academic year. Each student must complete the application, write a one page narrative on their goals and ambitions, and submit these papers with their transcripts. The Foundation has a very dedicated committee who reviews each applicant’s application, letter(s) of recommendation, and the student’s essay on his/her goals and aspirations. It is a long, tenuous process where each student is graded (individually by each committee member) on their goals and aspirations, their extracurricular activities and industry-related activities. We then compile all the committee member ballots and select the top five students. Cash awards go to the top five ($2500 per student). The next student chosen will be the alternate student should one of the award recipients not use all of his/her funds (i.e. early graduation).