Ten inspiring college students who plan to pursue careers in the pork industry have been selected as the recipients of the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship program. The winners were announced today at the National Pork Producers Council annual business meeting, the National Pork Industry Forum in Orlando. The scholarship, named after the late NPPC vice president from Mt. Olive, N.C., is sponsored by CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation and managed and administered by NPPC.

The 2019 winners of the $2,500 scholarships are:

The scholarship program was introduced in 1990 by CME Group and NPPC to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CME hog futures. The scholarship was renamed in 2006 to honor the passing of NPPC board member Lois Britt, a lifetime supporter of agriculture. Britt spent 34 years with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, finishing out her career for 15 years with Smithfield Hog Production in public and government relations. She was inducted into the NPPC Pork Industry Hall of Fame, the N.C. Pork Council Hall of Fame and awarded the N.C. 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award.

To be eligible for a scholarship, students must be undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture, provide a brief letter describing their expected role in the pork industry, write an essay on an issue affecting the pork industry and submit two letters of reference from professors or industry professionals.

“These outstanding young people represent the future of the U.S. pork industry,” says NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a pork producer from Johnstown, Ohio. “They are the next generation of leaders, and NPPC and CME Group are pleased to recognize their commitment to the pork industry with these scholarships.”

Source: National Pork Producers Council, who are solely responsible for the information provided, and wholly owns the information. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.