Education – Southeast Produce Council

Isabella Kim

Muhammad Ali

Jordan Williams

Southern Exposure Networking Highlights

Future Generations Celebration Dinner

Mix and mingle with some of SEPC’s top produce professionals

STARS Breakfast

Join fellow STARS students for breakfast with an informative guest speaker from the industry

STARS Fresh Futures

Interview with SEPC member companies seeking fresh employees

Testimonials

“This past weekend at Southern Exposure was one of the highlights of my college career. It was really enjoyable to meet and connect with so many industry professionals.”

~ Maxwell Cavassa, Auburn University, STARS Class of 2020

“Being able to attend Southern Exposure 2019 definitely opened my eyes to the endless career opportunities in the industry sector, and the overall STARS experience has had a positive impact in my career as a food microbiologist.”

~ Erika Estrada, Virginia Tech, STARS Class of 2019

Participating Universities

Please get in touch with the respective contact at any of the below universities for more information on the STARS program.

Jordan Moseley

Development Officer

College of Agriculture
Auburn University
100 Corner Hall
Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-3472

Margaret Owens

Senior Director of Development

College of Agriculture, Forestry & Life Sciences
Clemson University
101 Barre Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-0202
(864) 276-7245

Amanda L. Martin

Assistant Dean Recruitment & Student Development

College of Agriculture
Louisiana State University
146 Martin D. Woodin Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70830
(225) 578-2266

Robin Clements

Student Services Specialist

CALS Academic Programs Office
North Carolina State University
Campus Box 7642
111 Patterson Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-7642

Cathy Herren Carr

Director, Alumni and Career Services

University of Florida
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
2020 McCarty Hall D
PO Box 110270
Gainesville, FL 32611-0270
(352) 392-1963

Dana Nash

Administrative Manager

UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
University of Georgia
Office of Academic Affairs
102 Conner Hall
Athens, GA 30602
(706) 542-1611

Cynthia Beatty

Fiscal Administrator, Academic Programs

Virginia Tech
Office of Academic Programs
175 West Campus Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-9671

Michael J.W. Maw, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Agronomy

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
ABAC 8
2802 Moore Hwy.
Tifton, GA 31793
(229) 391-5243

SEPC Fresh Chefs

Recipients of the SEPC Fresh Chefs Scholarship will each receive one (1) $1,500 scholarship toward their educational goals for the upcoming year. In addition to the scholarship funds, each recipient will also be expected to attend the SEPC’s Southern Innovations conference & expo. The SEPC will cover hotel and travel expenses to this event and will also provide an SEPC Fresh Chefs jacket for each recipient. The scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to meet with hundreds of produce industry grower/shipper members as well as the nation’s leading retailers and foodservice distributors.

Congratulations to our 2024 SEPC Fresh Chefs Scholarship Recipients!

Tairan Lockett Peter York

SEPC Fresh Chefs FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for the SEPC Fresh Chefs Scholarship Program?

Any full-time college or secondary education student (minimum 12 semester hours) pursuing a degree in culinary arts or restaurant management. The applicant should have completed their 1^st year of school.

What is necessary to complete the application?

Enrollment verification from College/University
College/University Student ID Number, current major, & GPA
College/University Address where the scholarship funds should be sent
Video (2-minute maximum in length) introducing yourself and explaining the importance of using fresh produce in menus.

Where do I submit my application?

The SEPC Fresh Chefs scholarship application can only be submitted online through our link which will be provided beginning March 25^th. The application deadline is May 24^th at 5pm EST.

Who are the judges?

Members of the SEPC Foodservice Committee

SCHOLARSHIPS

SEPC Member Scholarship

Recipients of the SEPC Member Scholarship will each receive a scholarship of $1,500 toward their educational goals for the upcoming school year. The SEPC is proud to award 39 scholarships ($58,500) in 2024 thanks to the dedication of our members.

SEPC Member Scholarship FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for the SEPC Member Scholarship Program?

Applicant must be/have a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing as of May 1st of the current year [Member has been on the SEPC membership roster for at least 12 months and has personally attended at least one event (Southern Exposure and/or Southern Innovations) within the last 12 months]. Immediate family members may apply if the active member is part of a corporate membership. Members who have individual memberships are not eligible.

Each applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 semester hours).

What is necessary to complete the application?

College or high school transcript
SEPC Member Name and Member #
College/University Student ID #, current major and GPA (minimum 3.0 GPA required)
College/University Address where the scholarship check will be sent
SAT and/or ACT scores
Enrollment verification from College/University
Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
Community Involvement
500-word minimum and 1000-word maximum essay
- 2024 Essay Topic:
  This year SEPC is celebrating The Unseen Heroes - the men and women who serve our industry by plowing fields, harvesting crops, sorting produce, loading trucks, stocking shelves, and prepping meals. Some heroes wear camouflage, but within our industry they wear coveralls, work boots, gloves, aprons, hairnets, chef coats, safety glasses, and wide-brimmed hats. In your experience, how have you witnessed the unseen side of the produce industry? Also, what lessons have you learned from these unseen heroes, and how can you apply these life lessons to your own life?
  
  *Note: Although the essay topic is similar, former Vorhees Vision Scholarship applicants must submit a different essay when applying for the SEPC Member scholarship. Use of AI tools or services to generate the content of essays is strictly prohibited. Essays submitted using AI formatting will be disqualified.

Where do I submit my application?

The SEPC scholarship application can only be submitted online through our link which will be provided beginning March 11, 2024. The application deadline is April 26, 2024 at 5pm EST.

Who are the judges?

Members of the SEPC Scholarship Committee

*All judges will be impartial when judging each redacted essay. All participant names and company references will be redacted before judging. If any judge has a personal relationship with any participant, that judge will be asked to recuse himself or herself from judging and will be replaced.

I was a recipient of a past SEPC scholarship. Can I apply again?

First preference is given to new applicants; however, you may apply for additional scholarship awards. You will need to provide transcripts from the university you are attending along with proof of enrollment. All repeat scholarship recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible each year.

When will the SEPC scholarships be announced?

Recipients are announced on May 20, 2024.

Congratulations to our 2024 SEPC Member Scholarship recipients!

Colton Barton

Sebastian Cimino

Olivia Coufal

Lillian Davis

Tahlia DiLaudo

Marco DiLaudo

Jacob Eubanks

Douglas Ford

Wesley Fox

Mark Fuehrer

Kameryn Hawes

Maegan Heink

Emma Jackson

Kristopher James

Morgan Jenny

Lindsey Kastensmidt

Isabella Lott

Gabrielle Matejowsky

Carter McCormick

Mia Muniz

Jadyn Murray

Kaylee Nelsen

Alexis Olsen

Matheson Parker

Haley Pilcher

Madison Pilcher

Tanner Rayfield

Lowri Richards

Aly Rooke

Ethan Rose

Carter Schwalls

Steven Shaw

Hudson Sherrod

Mason Shuman

Riley St George

Sophia Tanner

Kasey Tipton

Avery White

Ethan Wood

Vorhees Vision Scholarship

The Vorhees Vision Scholarship was created to reward the achievements of young individuals who demonstrate a true entrepreneurial spirit in their lives as they pursue their educational goals. This scholarship is named in honor of the late Terry L. Vorhees, founder and first Executive Director of the Southeast Produce Council. Because of his vision and efforts, the Southeast Produce Council became and remains one of the best resources in the produce industry today.

Details

One college-aged student (graduating high school senior or current college student) will receive a one-time scholarship of $10,000 to their enrolling college/university. The 2^nd place recipient will receive $1,500, and the 3^rd place recipient will receive $1,000.

Congratulations to our 2024 Vorhees Vision Scholarship recipients!

1st Place

Avery White

Daughter of Johnny and Melanie White

Shuman Farms

2nd Place

Kaylee Nelsen

Daughter of Sean Nelsen

Fowler Packing

3rd Place

Emma Jackson

Daughter of Rob Jackson

Red Sun Farms

Vorhees Vision Scholarship FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for the Vorhees Vision Scholarship?

Each applicant must be/have a parent or grandparent who is a corporate member in good standing as of January 15th of the current year [Member has been on the SEPC membership roster for at least 12 months and has personally attended at least one event (Southern Exposure and/or Southern Innovations) within the last 12 months]. Immediate family members may apply if the active member is part of a corporate membership. Members who have individual memberships are not eligible.

Each applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 semester hours).

What is necessary to complete the application?

Grade Point Average- Minimum 3.0
Two (2) letters of recommendation from high school and/or college staff, clergy, community leaders, etc.
SAT or ACT scores
Leadership and community service involvement
1000-word minimum essay*
- The Southeast Produce Council's theme this year is Family Meals Matter, encompassing the importance of family and the consumption of healthy produce. Below is our topic for the 2025 Vorhees Vision Scholarship, and we look forward to reading your creative submissions.
- 2025 Essay Topic: Share why family meals are meaningful to you and how they can promote healthy eating habits. Describe how implementing these meals can help grow and strengthen generational bonds, including a personal experience you've witnessed.

*Use of AI tools or services to generate the content of essays is strictly prohibited. Essays submitted using AI formatting will be disqualified.

Where do I submit my application?

The application can only be submitted online through our link which will be provided beginning November 25, 2024. The application deadline is January 10, 2025 at 5pm EST.

Who are the judges?

Members of the SEPC Scholarship Committee

I was a recipient of the Vorhees Vision Scholarship in the past. Can I apply again?

First preference is given to new applicants; however, 2nd and 3rd place recipients may apply for additional scholarship awards. 1st place recipients may not reapply.

When will the scholarship be announced?

The scholarship will be awarded February 10, 2025. One (1) $10,000.00 scholarship will be awarded to the scholarship recipient’s enrolling College/University. The 2^nd place recipient will receive $1,500, and the 3^rd place recipient will receive $1,000.

Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship was established to memorialize Jim Nolan, who took an ethical stand on a business matter at great cost to himself. As a result of his professional ethics, Nolan was ostracized by colleagues and remained isolated in his efforts to maintain moral integrity in his workplace. It would have taken only a few others with the courage to speak out to change the course of events. Tragically, Jim died before the trial that finally vindicated his actions by a judge and a jury of 13 who found in his favor. Our sincere thanks to Theresa Nolan for providing this scholarship to the members of the Southeast Produce Council. She is a lifetime member of the SEPC and is always available to lend a helping hand wherever needed.

Details

One college-aged student (graduating high school senior or current college student) will receive a one-time scholarship of $5,000 to their enrolling college/university. The scholarship will be awarded based on GPA (3.0 or higher), references and quality of essay.

Congratulations to our 2024 James and Theresa Nolan Family Foundation Scholarship recipient!

Mark Fuehrer

Son of Milton Fuehrer | Michigan Fresh Marketing