AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced the recipients of this year's $10,000 Hormel Heroes Scholarships. The Hormel Heroes Scholarship Program was created by Hormel Foods to support students with military backgrounds pursuing degrees in culinary arts or a foodservice management related program and is administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).
"Each year, we provide two $10,000 Hormel Heroes Scholarships to show our appreciation for students who serve or have served our country and are pursuing careers in the foodservice industry," said Mark Ourada, group vice president of Foodservice, Hormel Foods. "Hormel Foods has a long history of supporting the military and this program is just one example. Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients, Nelson Lister and Marie Stimpson, and thank you for your service."
Lister serves in the U.S. Navy. He attends Ashford University and is pursuing a degree in supply chain management and operations. Lister would like to become a materials manager of a major company and would also like to open his own restaurant.
"I would like to thank Hormel Foods for seeing the potential in me and allowing me to use this scholarship to achieve my goals," Lister said. "Words cannot express my joy and appreciation. Thank you for your kindness and generosity."
Stimpson is a retired Master Sergeant with more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Army. She is currently pursuing a degree in culinary management at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and dreams of becoming a chef and opening her own pastry/homemade candy store.
"Thank you for lifting my financial burden so I can focus more on the most important aspect of school: learning," Stimpson said. "Your generosity has inspired me to one day give back to the community by helping other students achieve their goals just as you have helped me."
"We'd like to congratulate Nelson Lister and Marie Stimpson for winning the 2018 Hormel Heroes Scholarships," said Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF. "Thank you to Hormel Foods for making this scholarship possible, and for the opportunity to invest in the future of our industry with these incredible men and women who have served our country."
Additional information about the company's philanthropic efforts can be found in the company's corporate responsibility report at https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.
About Hormel Foods — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenues across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY®, SPAM®, Hormel® Natural Choice®, Applegate®, Justin's®, Wholly Guacamole®, Hormel® Black Label®, Columbus® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the 10th year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. In 2016, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary and announced its new vision for the future — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — focusing on its legacy of innovation. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.
About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF)
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry's training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today's and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® — a high school career and technical educational program; Restaurant Ready — partnering with community-based organizations to provide "opportunity youth" with skills training and job opportunities; Military — helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships — financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Project — a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
Source: Hormel Foods
