Scholarships

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.

Click Here to Apply | Click Here to See MAFTO 2022 Scholarship Recipients | Click Here to See MAFTO 2023 St. Joseph’s Academy of Food Marketing Scholarship Recipients

Click here to see how you/your company can donate to the MAFTO scholarship program. Your company will appear here as a donor.

The money used for these scholarships comes from the various MAFTO events. It is important for members to support these events so we can continue these beneficial programs. Since 2005, MAFTO has awarded 172 scholarships totaling $612,000.

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

Apply for Scholarship

Ryann Foley is starting her second year at Coastal Carolina University. She is in an accelerated program called DN3 – degree in three. This program allows you to complete your undergraduate degree in three years and your graduate degree in the 4th year.  She is majoring in marketing with a minor in financial planning. Ryann is an avid golfer and works part time at the campus golf course. She hopes to pursue a marketing career within the sports industry after graduation.  

Christian Thack is a senior at Syracuse University majoring in Finance and Supply Chain Management.  On campus, Christian is involved as a financial literacy tutor for local Syracuse City School District students under the Balancing the Books initiative. On top of this, he is the Treasurer of the Syracuse Club Baseball Team. This past summer Christian interned for Burlington Stores as a Corporate Supply Chain and Distribution intern. Christian hopes to return to Burlington or pursue corporate finance following his graduation in May of 2025. 

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.

Thank you to the following companies for their direct contribution to the MAFTO scholarship program:

Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services

If you would like to add you/your companies name to this list, please click here.

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.