Announcements

2026 NICA Foundation Scholarship Recipients Have Been Selected

The NICA Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of the 2026 NICA Scholarship Recipients. After a thorough, confidential, and anonymous review of the many applications received, the NICA Foundation is proud to award an all-time high of 37 Scholarships (up from 33), for a total of $70,000 (an increase of $6,000), to our commendable recipients this year.

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! A few of the recipients actually said the same thing—since they had to pay their tuition soon, the call couldn't have come at a better time. 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 is more than you imagine!"

Congratulations to our 37 Recipients:

NICA 25th Anniversary Scholarship – Trevor Molnar

NICA Regional Councils' Scholarship – Lillie Brander

Marcus Family Scholarship – James MacPherson

Coca-Cola CCE Scholarship – Eva Tutak

Fare Foods Scholarship – Katie Schulz

Entegra Scholarship – Devin Coffman

NICA Leadership Scholarship – Arielle May

Beach Cities Visionary Scholarship – Gianna Palmieri

Berk Brands Visionary Scholarship – Louis DeMedici

Evelyn Deggeller Visionary Scholarship – Katelinn Peterson

Linda Frisco Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Alyson Oakley

Jessica Gottsche Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Tate Hinkemeyer

Tom Hodson, CCE Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Barron Taylor

Alys Huffman Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Ella Underberg

Hummel Group Visionary Scholarship – Ryan Elliott

The Langlois Company Visionary Scholarship – Emelia Lynn

Masonic Band of Brothers Visionary Scholarship – Angelina Petrovic

McConnell Family Visionary Scholarship – Ella Brick

Mellowship Entertainment Visionary Scholarship – Lauren Nagle

Tom Moore Memorial Visionary Scholarship – Chloe Cockerham

Pittroff & Barona Family Visionary Scholarship – Jacob Lindert

Norma Jean & Edgar Sivori Visionary Scholarship – Adalyn Lutz

Spaghetti Eddie Family Visionary Scholarship – Maelee Pilant

O'Brien Vocational Scholarship – Kale Baker

Entrepreneurial Scholarships – Jaiden Bowen, Ava Collmer, Nolan Garstka, Bailey Huettl, Johanna Kunz, Skylar Murray, and Sophia Pulaski

Inspirational Scholarships – Calum Axelson, Dylan Bohannon, Estella Collmer, Isabella Lamkin, Tyler Nunley, and Lydia Teague

Thank You to Our 2026 Scholarship Donors:

• Reilly Berk, Berk Brands
• Allen May, Beach Cities Wholesalers
• Coca-Cola
• Entegra
• Todd Desgranges, Stuart Confections
• Jeff Langlois, The Langlois Company
• Nathan Marcus, West Coast Weenies
• The McConnell Family, 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
• 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 (deceased), 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. Thanks to you, our future leaders are "Making Connections!"

Applications for the 2027 Scholarship Program will be available in early Spring 2027.