Applications are now open for the Food Safety Auditing Scholarship and Education Travel Grant, with North American students interested in accredited food safety auditing encouraged to apply.

The initiative from the Food Marketing Institute Foundation, in partnership with the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), aims to increase awareness of food safety auditing among the next generation of accredited third-party auditors.

Scholarship recipients are awarded $3,000, in addition to an education travel grant to attend the SQF International Conference to be held in Atlanta, Georgia, in October, where the awards will be presented. The conference also offers students the opportunity to network with more than 750 food safety professionals. The education travel grant covers the cost of travel, hotel, and admittance to the SQF International Conference.

The scholarships are based on academic ability, leadership potential, and motivation and initiative—along with a passion for food safety and auditing.

Applications for the 2018/2019 academic year are open until September 7 at 5:00 pm ET. Applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student (undergraduate or graduate) in an accredited college or university in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico, have completed at least two years of college, and have a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.2.

Click here to view the eligibility requirements and application criteria. Questions regarding the scholarship can be sent to Kristie Grzywinski at kgrzywinski@sqfi.com.

The scholarship program was established by The Food Marketing Institute Foundation in 2013 to award one-year, $3,000 academic scholarships to 15 food and animal science majors for their academic pursuits to improve food safety and protect public health.