SEPC Announces 2023 Member Scholarship Recipients

Millen, GA – The Southeast Produce Council is pleased to announce this year’s SEPC Member Scholarship recipients. They are proud to award 43 scholarships ($64,500) in 2023 thanks to the dedication of their members.

Scholarships are awarded to applicants who meet the application criteria of having a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing with the SEPC and has personally attended at least one SEPC event within the last (12) twelve months. Additionally, applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 semester hours. Applicants are then able to submit the necessary paperwork, including an essay, to be reviewed by members of the SEPC Scholarship Committee.

2023 Essay Topic:

Since you are applying for the SEPC Member Scholarship, you already have a connection through your family/our members within the produce industry, and we hope that connection is strengthened in the coming years as you determine your career path(s) and become the changemakers of your generation. Our overarching theme for this year is Inspiring Innovation Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow. Considering the issues of food waste as a major factor in sustainability, here is this year’s topic:

Where have you seen or experienced food waste in your life – farm, grocery, restaurants, school, home, etc.? What are some innovative solutions to reducing or preventing food waste? Do you think even the smallest of ideas can be scaled for a global solution?

SEPC Member Scholarship recipients receive one $1,500 scholarship annually. Past recipients are eligible; however, they must have maintained a 3.0 GPA, and first preference is given to new applicants.

Congratulations to the 43 recipients of the 2023 SEPC Member Scholarship:

Recipient Name	Member Name	Member Company
Kade Adams	Kerry Adams	Rouses Markets
Kayelyn Austin	Garry Bergstrom	Southeast Produce Council
Gary E. Baker	Gary Baker	Merchants Distributors, LLC
Colton Barton	Jill Barton	Jim Rash Inc
Austin Belknap	Blake Belknap	Rainier Fruit Company
Kennedy Belknap	Blake Belknap	Rainier Fruit Company
Kordelia Bergstrom	Garry Bergstrom	Southeast Produce Council
Bryan Biederman	Bryan Biederman	Scotlynn Sweet Pac Growers
Ani Brown	Kohl Brown	Harvest Fresh Partners
Sebastian Cimino	Jaime Cimino	Always Fresh Farms
Lillian Davis	Dan Davis	Starr Ranch Growers
Marco Di Laudo	Dino Di Laudo	Topline Farms
Tahlia Dilaudo	Dino Dilaudo	Topline Farms
Conner Edmondson	Tim Edmondson	Edmondson Farms
Joshua Eubanks	Allen Eubanks	Eubanks Produce Inc.
Douglas Ford	Kent Ford	Taylor Farms
Maxwell Fuehrer	Milton Fuehrer	Michigan Fresh Marketing
Michael Fuehrer	Milton Fuehrer	Michigan Fresh Marketing
Ellen Hendrix	Kevin Hendrix	Hendrix Produce
Morgan Jenny	Brian Jenny	B&W Quality Growers
Lindsey Kastensmidt	Matthew Kastensmidt	Tom Lange, Inc
Isabella Lott	Sloan Lott	Bland Farms
Gabrielle Matejowsky	Sarah Matejowsky	Sunkist Grower Inc
Charlotte Minerva	Michael Minerva	Village Farms
Kaylee Nelsen	Sean Nelsen	Fowler Packing
Alexis Olsen	Melissa Olsen	US Foods
Claire Paivarinta	Harold Paivarinta	Red Sun Farms
Olin Paivarinta	Harold Paivarinta	Red Sun Farms
Matheson Parker	Brandon Parker	Shuman Farms
Haley Pilcher	Alison Pilcher	Coastline Family Farms
Lowri Richards	Gini Richards	Monterey Mushrooms
Peyton Rudman	Shawn Rudman	Gulfstream Produce
Steven Shaw	Tracy Shaw	Healthy Family Project
Hudson Sherrod	David Sherrod	Southeast Produce Council
Mason Shuman	Mark Shuman	Shuman Farms
Brittany St George	Kimberly St George	Dole Food Company
Riley St George	Kimberly St George	Dole Food Company
Sophia Tanner	Matthew Tanner	Pacific Trellis Fruit
Kasey Tipton	Mike Tipton	Schnucks
Charles White	Johnny White	Shuman Farms
Avery White	Johnny White	Shuman Farms
Madison Wing	Rick Estess	RPE
Kylie Wynne	Jadey Wynne	US Foods

Thank you to all SEPC Member Scholarship applicants!

Visit SEPC’s website for more information about the SEPC Member Scholarship and others.

About Southeast Produce Council

The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) sprouted in 1999 when a shared vision for cultivating a nonprofit Southeastern-based produce organization was planted. From the first formal meeting of the SEPC where 100 agriculture, retail, and foodservice professionals gathered, we’ve flourished into a vibrant and innovative organization of over 4,000 industry professionals who reap the benefits of harvesting quality experiences guaranteed to increase the value of their membership. As with farmland, a well-cultivated industry can last for generations, and today, we continue to grow at a steady pace thanks to a broad range of backgrounds and expertise from people like you, creating a more bountiful tomorrow.

Learn the benefits of SEPC membership at seproducecouncil.com.