Meat Foundation Opens Scholarship Applications, Increases Largest Award to $15,000
ARLINGTON, VA — The Meat Foundation today announced that applications are now open for its 2026–2027 scholarship program and that the largest award has been increased to $15,000. The Foundation will award $100,000 in merit-based scholarships to exceptional undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in the meat and poultry industry and related fields.
“Investing in students today means strengthening the workforce and leadership of tomorrow,” said Susan Backus, President of the Meat Foundation. “We are proud to continue fostering education, encouraging innovation, and upholding the highest standards of excellence through this scholarship program.”
To further support the development of future leaders in animal agriculture, the Foundation has increased the award for its top scholarship — the Carpenter Scholarship — from $10,000 to $15,000 for one undergraduate and has added one graduate recipient this year. It also increased the Merit Scholarships from $5,000 to $10,000 for two undergraduate and two graduate students. The Meat Foundation will award an additional three $5,000 scholarships to undergraduates and three $5,000 scholarships to graduate students this year.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, students can apply for the following Meat Foundation scholarships:
Undergraduate Awards
- 1 – $15,000 Carpenter Scholarship
- 2 – $10,000 Merit Scholarships
- 1 – $5,000 DeBenedetti Scholarship
- 1 – $5,000 Mucklow Scholarship
- 1 – $5,000 Duyn Scholarship
Graduate Awards
- 1 – $15,000 Carpenter Scholarship
- 2 – $10,000 Merit Scholarships
- 1 – $5,000 Gustafson Scholarship
- 1 – $5,000 Piccetti Scholarship
- 1 – $5,000 Powers Scholarship
These scholarships honor influential industry leaders, including Barry Carpenter, Frank DeBenedetti, Al Piccetti, John Duyn, Florence Smith Powers, Rosemary Mucklow, and Ron Gustafson, whose legacies continue to shape the meat and poultry sector.
Applications are reviewed by a scholarship committee using a weighted rubric to ensure a rigorous, merit-based selection process. Students must be enrolled at an accredited university and submit department support and a transcript at the time of application.
The deadline to apply is April 30, 2026.
Students are encouraged to review eligibility requirements and application rules before beginning the online submission process using the following links:
To help continue supporting students and future leaders through this scholarship program, consider donating here.
About the Meat Foundation
The Meat Foundation is a 501 C3 non-profit organization dedicated to research, education, and scholarship. Our mission is to advance scientific understanding, cultivate future leaders, and support continuous improvement in the meat industry. In 2024, the Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education (FMPRE) and the NAMI Scholarship Foundation merged under the new name, Meat Foundation. The joining of these two foundations marks a significant step towards our goal of continuous improvement across research, education, and scholarships. In addition to applied research and professional development programming, the Foundation awards merit-based scholarships annually to accomplished students pursuing education that will lead to a career in the meat industry.