Grants & Scholarships - NCIFT

Grants & Scholarships

Russ Nishikawa Helping Hand Award

  1. Provide support to deserving industry members for NCIFT meeting fees who showcase Russ Nishikawa’s spirit of selflessness, service, and volunteerism.
  2. Scholarship amount awarded: meeting registration costs related to attending any NCIFT dinner, function, or meeting that requires attendees to pay an attendance fee (up to $1,000 annually)
    • Award is NOT a grant for IFT travel
  3. Timeline: applications accepted throughout the year – due one week before the scheduled meeting
  4. Eligibility
    • Professional member scholarship
    • Want to attend NCIFT meeting
    • Need help with registration costs
  5. Application requirements
    • Name, email, phone contact, provide current place of employment, unemployment, or year in school, a brief description of IFT/NCIFT involvement, provide a statement of Need
Click Here to apply for Helping Hand Award

Steve and Carol Cooper Travel Grants

  1. Provide travel assistance for students attending National IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo (June/July)
  2. Scholarship amount awarded: up to $500
  3. Timeline: 1st week of May deadline
  4. Based on
    • Activity in their Food Science Club, NCIFT activities (including CVIFT, MBIFT, and SJIFT), and National IFT
    • Members of NCIFT
Click here to apply for Steve and Carol Cooper Travel Grants

Marie and William Cruess Scholarships

  1. Trust fund established by Marie Cruess for NCIFT.
  2. Encourage deserving junior or senior students to continue pursuing a curriculum leading to degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or related field
  3. Scholarship amount awarded: up to $1500
  4. Timeline: 1st week of December deadline
  5. Eligibility requirements
    • Students in their Junior/Senior year attending any college/university within the boundaries of NCIFT and pursuing a B.S. degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or related field.
    • Reside within NCIFT geographic area.
    • Good academic standing with well-rounded personality.
    • First time recipients not required to be a member of IFT or NCIFT.  Applicants who have previously received a Marie and William Cruess Scholarship must be student members of both IFT and NCIFT.
  6. Application requirements
    • - Current resume, personal statement, copy of transcripts of academic records, and letter of recommendation
Click Here to Apply for Marie and William Cruess Scholarship

Congratulations to the 2026 Marie and William Cruess Scholarship Recipients

We are pleased to recognize and congratulate this year’s scholarship recipients from San José State University and the University of California, Davis.

San José State University (SJSU)

  • Vince Malaca
  • Kathryn Virrey
  • Pham Bao Truc Ho
  • Philip Liu
  • Gavrien Anglo

San José State University recipients

University of California, Davis (UCD)

  • ThuyLinh Tran
  • Poll Zhang (photo below)
  • Jade Schoenfeld (photo below)

 

Poll Zhang

Jade Schoenfeld

Congratulations to all of the 2026 Marie and William Cruess Scholarship recipients! We celebrate your achievements and wish you continued success in your academic and professional journeys.


2018 Marie and William Cruess Scholarship Recipients

Cruess Scholarship recipients with Dr. Linda Harris, Chair of UCD Dept. of Food
Science and Technology. From left to right: Adley Tong, Maddison Gurrola,
Thea Chryssogelos, Azella Gunarto, Alejandro Saldivar, Dr. Linda Harris,
Matthew Poon, Kyla Broderick, Chenhao Qian, Annie Chan.

 

2017 Marie and William Cruess Scholarship Recipients

Committee Contact:

Charlwit Kulchaiyawat
Charlwit1@gmail.com