Alamo IFT Scholarship Winners

2009 Scholarship Winners

Thanks to Emily Jurica for handling the application procedure and thanks to Fred Reimers for giving a great speech at the outing and doing this write up. We awarded over $ 7000 in scholarships this year.

Laura Zimmerer is a Senior at TAMU where she will graduate in May of 2010. Holds a 3.93 GPA and why she’s on the Dean’s list. Serves in a number of volunteer organizations and is Social Chair for the Terry Foundation student organization. After completing her B.S. in Food Science, plans to attend Graduate school with emphasis on Functional foods and phytochemicals. She’s looking for a possible internship with a large food company! One of her professors stated he was “…impressed by her initiative and determination” and “..her drive and abilities truly deserve recognition.”

Paula Simons is a Senior at TAMU and graduates in May of 2010. Holds a 3.59 GPA and belongs to 3 honor societies! Serves as VP of the TAMU Food Science Club and very involved as a volunteer in many fundraising events. Plans on attending graduate school with an interest in Fruits and Vegetables or grains and later look for opportunities in R&D to create innovative food products for the market. Her professor stated, “[she is] a vigorous, self-motivated and thinking individual equipped with good leadership skills.”

Sally Dierschke is a Senior at TTU and will graduate in 2010. Maintaining a 3.878 GPA and has been on the TT Dean’s List since 2008. Serves as President of the Food Science Club, along with being very involved as a volunteer in many worthy organizations. She acted as a congressional intern in Washington, DC this past summer for US Congressman Conaway and that may influence what she does in the future after attending graduate school with emphasis on food microbiology. Her professor stated she was “..undoubtedly …one of the top students in our program currently…”

Samantha Stephenson is a Senior at TTU and will graduate in May 2010. Holds a 3.571 GPA and has received the Presidential Award twice along with acceptance into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has been active in IFT over past 2 years and competed in the TTU Quiz Bowl team. Plans to attend graduate school and work with nutritional and compositional Analysis of food and product development. Her professor stated, “.she has a great attitude, strong work ethic and ultimately will be a desirable hire for the industry…”

Corey Askew is majoring in Culinary Arts at St. Phillip’s College while maintaining a 3.3 GPA. He has used his prior military leadership skills in being active in a number of ministries through his church where he is strongly supported by his wife and 4 children. He looks at having his own eatery where he can be involved with his customers and those around him. His professor stated he “was impressed with his desire to learn, initiative, interest in all aspects of learning and commitment to his education and career.”

Yolanda Gamez is majoring in Culinary Arts at St. Phillip’s College and holds a 3.11 GPA that gave her an invite to Phi Theta Kappa. She balances her school schedule around her full time job with Aldaco’s Mexican Cuisine (site of our Dec. meeting) with hopes of owning her own catering business in the future and offering something no other chef as been able to produce. Her St. Phillip’s letter gave us an insight of how Yolanda battles hardship living as a single mom while working on getting her husband residential status from Mexico and expressed her many attributes like leadership, persistence, dedication, and finishing her education.