2024 NICA Foundation Scholarship Recipients Have Been Selected

The NICA Foundation is pleased to announce the selection of the 2024 NICA Scholarship Recipients. After a thorough, confidential, and anonymous review of the many applications received, the NICA Foundation is proud to award 31 scholarships (up from 26), for a total of $52,000 (an increase of $7,000), to our commendable Scholarship 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 in the lives of these students is more than you imagine!”

Congratulations to our 31 Recipients:

25th Anniversary Scholarship – Taylor Coffman

Marcus Family Scholarship – James MacPherson

Coca-Cola CCE Scholarship – Sarai Viveros

Hall of Fame Scholarship – Emma Rhoden

Regional Councils' Scholarship – Kylie Kastl

Leadership Scholarship – Ashton Coffman

Berk Brands Visionary Scholarship – Megan Miley

Fare Foods Visionary Scholarship – Cayden Neal

Alys Huffman Visionary Scholarship – Lauren Distad

Hummel Group Visionary Scholarship – Kennedy Tutak

Masonic Band of Brothers Visionary Scholarship – Adeline Lancaster

McConnell Family Visionary Scholarship – Josephine DiPaola

Mellowship Entertainment Visionary Scholarship – Carmela Palmieri

Tom Moore Visionary Scholarship – Katie Schulz

Pittroff & Barona Family Visionary Scholarship – Eva Tutak

Norma Jean & Edgar Sivori Visionary Scholarship – Trevor Molnar

Entrepreneurial Scholarships – Ella Brick, Chloe Cockerham, Jade Elomina, Gavin Glushakow, Tate Hinkemeyer, Kalista Kastl, Gage Morgenstern, Ella Underberg, and Lilly Underberg

Inspirational Scholarships – Dylan Bohannon, Gracie Hunter, Gianna Palmieri, Harley Pickett, Sophia Pulaski, and Gage Smith

Thank you to the 2024 Scholarship Program Sponsors: Berk Brands; Coca-Cola; Nathan Marcus, West Coast Weenies; Laura and Ron Porter, Fare Foods; Phil Teague, Hummel Group; James and Larry McConnell, CCE, McConnell Concessions; John Juliano, Mellowship Entertainment; the Pittroff and Barona Family, Giant Slide and The Original Australian Battered Potatoes; Rey O’Day, NICA Executive Director; Audrey Poole, NICA Foundation President; Larry Sivori, Sivori Catering; and “A Band of Brothers,” which includes 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 in the lives of our scholarship recipients.

Applications for the 2025 Scholarship Program will be available in early Spring 2025.