2026-2027 MNIFT Scholarship Application

2026-2027 Minnesota Section IFT Scholarship & Awards Application
You must complete all parts of the application

Applicant Information

Applications are due by the end of the day on January 4, 2027.

Scholarships are awarded in the 2026-2027 school year, so please base the application on your current degree program.

Previous winners of the same graduate degree program are not eligible to receive scholarships. However, there is no eligibility restriction for Travel Award.

MN IFT Scholarship recipients must be MN IFT student members attending one of the following schools:

Minnesota State – Mankato
North Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
University of Wisconsin-Stout Polytechnic

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Applicant Details
Applicant Name

First NameLast Name
Applicant Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Applicant Email
example@example.com
Applicant Department OR Home Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Membership Status
IFT Membership start date

MonthDayYear
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
Are you a current IFT member?
Minnesota IFT Membership start date

MonthDayYear
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit year
Are you a current Minnesota IFT member?

Education
University
What university are you attending?
Applicant's Major
Advisor's name
Current academic status
ex: Degree in progress
Current overall GPA
4.0 scale
GPA within Major
4.0 scale
Program entry date

MonthDayYear
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit yearDate
Program expected completion date

MonthDayYear
2 digit month, 2 digit day, 4 digit yearIf exact date not known, please list your anticipated completion date

Accomplishments, Awards, & Activities

All information should include dates. Please use bullet point format.
Please list academic accomplishments in your current degree program
10 Points. Include Dean’s List (semester and year/s), GPA, course work and any other relevant content.
Please list any research accomplishments in your current degree program
10 Points. Include dates and locations highlighting papers, research, poster sessions, professional presentations, publications and any other relevant content
List honors and awards (with dates)
10 Points
Please list all extracurricular activities, membership and/or leadership roles in your current degree program.
10 Points. Include applicable work/internship and teaching experience; organization participation, volunteering and/or leadership at IFT, IFTSA, MNIFT, Great Plains Subsection, Food Science Club chapter or other relevant organizations. All information should include dates.

Recommendation

Please list name of recommender and their contact information (10 Points)
Recommender name

First NameLast Name
Recommender email
example@example.com
Recommender phone
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Scholarship Questions

For those applying for the Scholarship
Are you involved in gut health research?
How did you become interested in Food related degree?
15 points
What role has IFT played in your experience and how has this shaped your career goals?
15 points
Describe any of your current or proposed research and impact of it within 1-2 pages.
20 points

Travel Award Questions

For those applying for the 2027 IFT FIRST Annual Meeting Travel Award
Why are you interested in attending the 2027 IFT FIRST Annual Meeting and Food Expo?
15 points
Please list all your participation at IFT, IFTSA, MN IFT, Great Plains Subsection, Food Science Club chapters
15 points
Describe your planned research presentation or participation in other IFT FIRST meeting activities
20 points

Caldwell Award Questions

For those applying for the Caldwell Award
The MN Section of the IFT sponsors the Elwood Caldwell scholarship to recognize, encourage and reward volunteer service by students. The scholarship is given in recognition of University of Minnesota Professor Emeritus Elwood Caldwell for his many years of service to the Section. It is the premier scholarship for students in the MN IFT section. The Caldwell recipient must be a student member of the MN IFT. Additionally, the student must have demonstrated:

1) Commitment to the MN IFT Section by their volunteer service (40 points)

2) Commitment to the betterment of the community in which their lives (10 points).

Please note: Leadership roles in volunteer activities are especially valued. Academic excellence is also encouraged, but shall not be used as a sole criterion in distinguishing among nominees.
Please list below and describe all volunteer and leadership activities in which you are involved.

Applicant Recommendation Letter
If you do not attach your recommendation letter here, you'll recieve instructions in your application confirmation on where the person recommending you should send the letter.
MN IFT Scholarship and/or Travel Award Recommendation Letter

The letter should include essential facts regarding your scholastic record, character, and extracurricular activities. The person writing the recommendation should state how they came to know you and your academic abilities, and they also should state other sources of support for your IFT FIRST Meeting Attendance expenses above and beyond Travel Award. The recommendation letter should be sent directly to the Scholarship Chair by the recommender.
Caldwell Nomination Letter

One (or more) nomination letter(s) must be submitted to complete the Caldwell scholarship application. The nomination should be written by a peer, professor, industry professional or other person familiar with the character and volunteer service exhibited by the nominee. The nomination should be sent directly to the Scholarship Chair by the nominator. The nomination should highlight the nominee’s volunteer service and leadership activities.

This nomination is the most important part of the Caldwell scholarship application evaluation.
Upload your letter here

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2026-2027 Minnesota Section IFT Scholarship & Awards Application

Applicant Information

Applicant Details

Membership Status

Education

Accomplishments, Awards, & Activities

Recommendation

Scholarship Questions

Travel Award Questions

Caldwell Award Questions

Applicant Recommendation Letter

MN IFT Scholarship and/or Travel Award Recommendation Letter

Caldwell Nomination Letter