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2026 NICA Foundation Scholarship Program

In 2026 the NICA Foundation Scholarship Program will award multiple scholarships, provided by our generous donors. With your continued help, we can ensure that the next generation will be "Making Connections!"

Who can apply?

  • YOU or any NICA member in good standing
  • Child of a new/current member
  • Grandchild of a new/current member
  • Employee of a new/current member for six months

What Scholarships are available? 

  • 25th Anniversary Scholarship at $4,000
  • Coca-Cola CCE Scholarship at $3,000
  • Regional Councils Scholarship at $3,000
  • NICA Leadership Scholarship at $3,000
  • 2 O’Brien Vocational Arts Scholarships at $2,000 each
  • Numerous Named Visionary Scholarships at $2,000 each
  • Various Entrepreneurial Scholarships at $1,000 each

Applications must include the following:

  1. Completed NICA Foundation Scholarship Application.
  2. A professional color photograph (no larger than a 8x10 photo if mailed, high resolution if submitted online) for publication in NICA News.
  3. Three letters of recommendation. If applicant is a 6 month employee of a regular NICA member, one of the letters must be from that owner.
  4. Official transcript reflecting your most recent academic semester/year. Your high school, college or university should mail (1043 E. Brandon Blvd. Brandon FL 33511), fax (813-803-8460), or email (scholarship@nicainc.org) transcripts directly to the NICA office.

The Scholarship Committee will not review any incomplete applications or applications from Scholarship Recipients who have received scholarships for four years. The Committee will take into consideration not only the content of the application, but also its appearance, word count, grammar, spelling and punctuation. If you have applied in past years, please update any written responses to get full credit. Once you complete the first question, applicants may save their progress before submitting by selecting the save icon next to the list of questions. You will receive a confirmation email once your application is submitted successfully. Although online applications are encouraged, downloadable fill-in versions are available upon request. Handwritten applications will not be accepted.

Be sure to request transcripts early to ensure receipt in the office by June 1, 2026. Any applications without transcripts will be disqualified.

When will scholarship applications be available?

Scholarship Applications will be available March 1, 2026.

When are scholarship applications due?

Scholarship Applications are due June 1, 2026. Applicants will be contacted with results in the month of July, and winners will be announced in August's issue of NICA News. Contact scholarship@nicainc.org with all inquiries.

2025 NICA Foundation Scholarship Recipients Have Been Selected

The NICA Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of the 2025 NICA Scholarship Recipients. After a thorough, confidential, and anonymous review of the many applications received, the NICA Foundation is proud to award 33 Scholarships (up from 31), for a total of $64,000 (an increase of $12,000), to our commendable recipients this year. No recipient received less than $1,000!

After speaking with the Scholarship Recipients this past week, Audrey Poole, NICA Foundation President, said, “No one knows the full impact that these scholarships have on our Industry's young people! I just love those stories! If you haven't donated to the Scholarship Program yet, I encourage you to please consider becoming a donor. The impact you can have in the lives of these students is more than you imagine!”

Congratulations to our 33 Recipients:

25th Anniversary Scholarship – Ashton Giordano

Marcus Family Scholarship – Lillie Brander

Coca-Cola CCE Scholarship – James MacPherson

Regional Councils' Scholarship – Taylor Coffman

Leadership Scholarship – Eva Tutak

Chuck Dugan's Chuckwagon Scholarship – Trevor Molnar

Berk Brands Visionary Scholarship – Carmela Palmieri

Evelyn Deggeller Visionary Scholarship – Emma Rhoden

Fare Foods Visionary Scholarship – Kane Clendenen

Linda Frisco Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Matilda Tan

Jessica Gottsche Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Will Miller

Tom Hodson, CCE Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Louis DeMedici

Alys Huffman Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Cynthia Espinoza

Hummel Group Visionary Scholarship – Ashton Coffman

Masonic Band of Brothers Visionary Scholarship – Katie Schulz

McConnell Family Visionary Scholarship – Nadia Hoffman

Mellowship Entertainment Visionary Scholarship – Lilly Underberg

Tom Moore Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Gianna Palmieri

Pittroff & Barona Family Visionary Scholarship – Yasameen Afshar

Norma Jean & Edgar Sivori Visionary Scholarship – Kalista Kastl

Spaghetti Eddie Family Visionary Scholarship – Ella Brick

O'Brien Vocational Scholarships – Kale Baker and Tobias Bellrichard

Entrepreneurial Scholarships – Skylar Bilderback, Devin Coffman, Adeline Garzanelli, Tate Hinkemeyer, Johanna Kunz, Emelia Lynn, Jackson McCuin, Jillian Monahan, Maelee Pilant, and Ella Underberg

Thank You to Our 2025 Scholarship Donors:

  • Reilly Berk, Berk Brands
  • Coca-Cola
  • Todd Desgranges, Stuart Confections
  • Nathan Marcus, West Coast Weenies
  • James and Larry McConnell, CCE, McConnell Concessions
  • Laura and Ron Porter, Fare Foods
  • Phil Teague, Hummel Group
  • John Juliano, CFE, Mellowship Entertainment
  • Rey O’Day, NICA Executive Director
  • The Pittroff and Barona Family, Giant Ride and The Original Australian Battered Potatoes
  • Audrey Poole, NICA Foundation President
  • Eddie Porcelli, Spaghetti Eddie
  • Larry Sivori, Sivori Catering
  • The Ben Franklin Club
  • "A Band of Brothers," including Pat Armstrong, Cornbelt Concessions; Ray Bianco, Bianco’s Foods; Richie George, CCE, George’s Fun Foods; Rusty Groscurth, Super Dog; Tom Hodson, CCE, The Thomas Hodson Company; Butch Ivory, CCE, Famous Gabby’s; Michael and Shawn Miller, Miller Foods; Ronnie Netterfield, Netterfields Popcorn and Lemonade; Ron Smith, RE Smith; and Larry Wynn, East Coast Concessions.

The additional fundraising efforts of the NICA Foundation Board of Trustees, NICA Past Presidents and Board of Directors, the NICA Regional Councils, and the NICA Membership help to ensure this program truly makes a difference for our recipients. Thanks to you, our future is "Shining Bright!"

Applications for the 2026 Scholarship Program will be available in early Spring 2026.

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