MAFTO Scholarships for our members and Academy of Food Marketing
students from St. Joseph’s University
The Mid Atlantic Food Trade Organization (MAFTO) is a 501c3 establishment whose goal is to aid with those in need in the food and related industry, and with scholarships for our members families. The MAFTO Scholarships are awarded without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, handicap or sex. Winners will be selected by the MAFTO Scholarship Committee based on academic success, overall excellence of character, and potential for community contributions and leadership. Recently we have also established a scholarship program with the Academy of Food Marketing at St. Joseph’s University. It is a logical step for us to provide assistance for the next generation of leaders in the food industry. We need to have educated and well-rounded individuals to take up the mantle of this generation.
events. It is important for members to support these events so we can
continue these beneficial programs. Since 2005, MAFTO has awarded 170 scholarships totaling $602,000.
Eligibility Requirements The MAFTO Scholarship is open to a child/stepchild or grandchild of a qualified MAFTO member. Qualified MAFTO members are those who have been in the organization for at least one year and attended at least one event within the last 12 months. You may receive this scholarship only once, repeat applications will be denied. You must also be a full-time returning college student as a sophomore, junior or senior. First year college freshman are not eligible to apply. The decision of the Scholarship Committee is final. Applications for the Scholarships are due by June 30. Please remember to include the following:
- Applicant’s Employer Letter of Recommendation (click here for form to fill out and upload)
- College Advisor Recommendation Form (click here for form to fill out and upload)
- A School Transcript
- Personal Essay
(write a personal essay to explain who the most influential person has been in your life so far. Please tell us how this person has affected your life. Your essay should be typed and should not exceed 250 words.)
Scholarships will be paid directly to the schools that the recipients attend. Applicants agree to accept the MAFTO Scholarship Committee’s decision as final.
Application Deadline: All applications and documents must be uploaded to the website by June 30
Olivia Null is a rising sophomore at Boston College, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Accounting.Olivia volunteers for 4Boston at a nearby partnership school, tutoring fourth and fifth graders. She is also part of the marketing team for the BCTedTalk Club. She hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public health in the future.
Gabrielle O’Brien is a rising sophomore at Immaculata University.She is currently studying nursing and playing field hockey at the collegiate level. After graduation Gabrielle plans to work as a registered nurse around Philadelphia, Pa. After two gap years in which she did mission work abroad in Mexico she has remained with the desire to help others and specifically children. She has a special interest in the pediatric field and hopes to work as a pediatric nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She also has the desire to work as a travel nurse experiencing different cultures and places after graduation. She would love to work as a missionary nurse at some point in her nursing career as well.
Owen Killoran is currently a student at Montana State University. He has been attending school in Bozeman for the past 3 years. He is originally from Havertown, Pennsylvania. Owen Is majoring in environmental studies at MSU and hopes to pursue a career in environmental rehabilitation.
Olivia Schlosky is an Accounting major and completed her Associate of Science degree at Rowan College at Burlington County.
In the Fall of 2023, she will be transferring as a Junior to Rider University. After her undergraduate studies, she plans to enroll in Rider University’s 4+1 MAcc Program so that she can earn her Master’s Degree in Accountancy and become a CPA. She is excited to pursue a career in Auditing at a mid-sized firm.
MAFTO 2024 St. Joseph’s Academy of Food Marketing Scholarship
Recipients
We had numerous qualifying applicants and struggled to arrive at a winner. After much consideration, the committee agreed upon Madison Schaefer.
Madison Schaefer is an incoming senior at Saint Joseph’s University studying Food Marketing. She has spent this past semester working for Bayer Consumer Health in their Net Revenue Management department where she gained a valuable skill set to enhance her understanding of the CPG industry. She is passionate about giving back to the community and wants to make a difference in her place of work. She could not be more honored to be this year’s MAFTO Scholarship recipient, and is looking forward to becoming an active member in the organization.
Due to the continued generosity of the food industry contributing to our events this past year, we were also able to grant 2 secondary Scholarships to other Food Marketing rising seniors:
Alec Babiak is currently finishing his junior year at Saint Joseph’s University where he is majoring in Food Marketing through the Haub School of Business. In 2022, he completed his first co-op position with Dietz & Watson as a Food Marketing Intern. He was among a select few students invited to attend the International Fresh Produce Association convention in Anaheim, California this past October. He is currently working in his second co-op position with The Hershey Company as a Territory Sales Lead. Alec chose Food Marketing not only because of his passion for great food, but also because of his ambition to open a food related business during his career.
Ava Miller is a rising senior Food Marketing Co-op Major at Saint Joseph’s University from Philadelphia, PA. She has completed a semester abroad in London, United Kingdom and is on the SJU Study Abroad Committee. She is currently working for PepsiCo within the Digital Menu Optimization Team to grow customer revenue by promoting products on online food delivery platforms. Ava is honored to be a recipient of a MAFTO Scholarship Award, and looks forward to becoming a part of the community.
We appreciate the support of the food industry so that we may continue to assist those students studying Food Marketing. These students will be soon joining us in the work force and eventually become leaders in the food industry.