Meat Foundation Awards $110,000 in Scholarships to Students in Animal, Meat and Food Sciences
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Meat Foundation today announced the recipients of its 2025-2026 scholarship awards. Twenty-one deserving undergraduate and graduate students received a total of $110,000 to pursue degrees in animal, meat and food sciences at their respective universities.
“Investing in the next generation of leaders is one of the most important things we can do for the future of the meat industry,” said Al Almanza, Chairman of the Foundation. “These scholarship recipients represent the innovation, passion, and dedication that will keep our industry progressing, and we are honored to support their academic and professional journeys.”
The Meat Foundation for over eight decades has been committed to driving innovation and fostering the next generation of industry leaders, resulting in safer and more sustainable meat and poultry products for the world.
The 11 undergraduate and 10 graduate scholarship recipients, selected from a competitive field of applicants, are as follows:
Undergraduate
Barry Carpenter Scholarship
- Cason Frisby, University of Arkansas, Food Science
Rosemary Mucklow Scholarship
- Emma Shepard, Iowa State University, Food Science
Al Piccetti Scholarship
- Matthew Stinebaker, Texas A&M University, Food Science and Technology
Merit Scholarships
- Nathan Kerth, Texas A&M University, Animal Science
- Spencer Walahoski, West Texas A&M University, Animal Science
- Jack Habjan, Texas Tech University, Animal Science
- Abigail Sleep, Texas Tech University, Animal Science Production
- Hayden Lott, Kansas State University, Animal Science
- Gemma Dotts, The Ohio State University, Animal Science
- Kylie Beard, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Animal Science
- Shayla Mader, Texas Tech University, Animal Science
Graduate
Ron Gustafson Scholarship
- Megan E Eckhardt, West Texas A&M University, Agriculture & Meat Science
John Duyn Scholarship
- Vianca Tashiguano, Auburn University, Food Science – Poultry Science
Florence Powers Scholarship
- Rishav Kumar, Auburn University, Poultry Science – Focus on Meat Science
Frank DeBenedetti Scholarship
- Boluwatife Esther Ajayi, Texas A&M University, Food Safety Microbiology
Merit Scholarships
- Lauren Lee, Texas A&M University, Animal Science – Meat Science & Food Safety
- Erasmo Alexander Flores Granados, Auburn University, Poultry Science
- Clint Lee, University of Georgia, Animal Science
- Kadie Graves, Texas A&M University, Animal Science – Meat Science
- Katherine S Sierra, Auburn University, Poultry – Food Science
- Lindsey Decker, Texas Tech University, Animal Science
For more details on each of the scholarships please visit https://meatfoundation.org/Scholarships.
Meat Foundation scholarships are supported by Meat Institute members and industry allies. Donations, which are tax deductible, should be sent to Meat Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd. Suite 0604. Arlington, VA, 22203. Questions regarding the Meat Foundation scholarships can be directed to scholarship@meatfoundation.org.
About the Meat Foundation
The Meat Foundation is a 501 C3 non-profit organization dedicated to research, education, and scholarship. Our mission is to advance scientific understanding, cultivate future leaders, and support continuous improvement in the meat industry. In 2024, the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education (FMPRE) and the NAMI Scholarship Foundation merged under the new name, Meat Foundation. The joining of these two foundations marks a significant step towards our goal of continuous improvement across research, education, and scholarships. In addition to applied research and professional development programming, the Foundation awards merit-based scholarships annually to accomplished students pursuing education that will lead to a career in the meat industry.