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NPFDA Scholarship Foundation

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Since 1979, the National Protein and Food Distributors Association Scholarship Foundation has awarded scholarships to dependents and employees of member companies.  The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Foundation's Federal EIN is 47-0640579.  2026 W-9 available for download.  Download the 2025 NPFDA Scholarship Foundation Annual Report.

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How to Apply - 2026 Applications are Open for Undergraduate, Technical, and Graduate Students

The National Protein & Food Distributors Association's Scholarship Foundation is pleased to offer the opportunity for a scholarship award to children/dependents or employees of NPFDA member companies. The selection process is blind - identifying information is redacted by staff before being evaluated by the Selection Committee. Each scholarship recipient will receive a $5,000 award. Funds are distributed directly to a college, university, or technical school. 

To qualify, each applicant must:

  • Be an employee of an NPFDA member company or the child/dependent of an employee of an NPFDA member company.

  • Be enrolled full-time at a US-based college, university, or technical school OR be a high school senior.

  • Graduate students must use the graduate school application below.

  • Be pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or technical school degree.

  • Upload a recent transcript.  

  • Complete the online application. 

  • Provide a "goals and aspirations" essay. Submission of the essay may be typed in the form or attached. Please refrain from using AI-assisted tools for the essay portion.

  • Provide a letter of recommendation from an advisor or mentor who is not a family member. 

All applications and documentation must be received by 5:00 pm ET, Friday, April 10, 2026, to be considered. 

  1. Undergraduate application for currently enrolled college students or high school seniors.
  2. Graduate School application for currently enrolled or accepted graduate school students.
  3. Technical College | Trade School application for currently enrolled students or high school seniors.

If you have questions, please email wendy "@" npfda.org.

2026 Named Scholarship Donor Companies

  • House of Raeford Farms - matching donation
  • Shuler Meats
  • D & Z Sales (formerly D & H Marketing)
  • Carolina Precision
  • Fieldale Farms/Springer Mountain Farms
  • Foodlinx
  • Jones Poultry
  • East Bay Poultry
  • Lamex Foods
  • Foodlink Group
  • Lawrence Wholesale

2026 Additional Scholarship Donor Companies

  • Americold
  • E.J. Poultry
  • Eastern Quality Foods
  • Environ Energy
  • House of Raeford Farms
  • Powell Management Group LLC
  • Simmons Foods
  • Integrity Foods
  • Diversified Foods, LLC

2025 Scholarship Foundation Recipients

June 2, 2025 – The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation awarded $50,000 in scholarships to ten outstanding students. The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation was established in 1979.

Eligible applicants are employees of NPFDA member companies or dependents of an employee of an NPFDA member company enrolled full-time at a US-based college or university or a graduating high school senior pursuing a college degree in the fall.

The NPFDA Scholarship Foundation’s Selection Committee reviewed each applicant’s submission. Each submission was evaluated on the essay, extracurricular activities, recommendation letter, and GPA - ballots were tallied, and the top ten students were awarded $5,000 each.

In 2025, two of the scholarships were generously funded in full by Shuler Meats. A third scholarship was fully funded by an anonymous donor.

2025 Scholarship Winners

Thank you videos from 2025 recipients on NPFDAtv