Culinary Innovation and Food Technology (Co-op) student Max Thach has won a $3,000 scholarship and an educational travel grant to attend the SQF Unites event for the global safety quality community to be held March 11-14 in New Orleans.
Thach was one of 15 outstanding food safety scholars awarded by the FMI Foundation, in partnership with the FMI Foundation in partnership with The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI – The Food Industry Association. The list of recipients was announced in December 2023;
Thach was the only student from a Canadian post-secondary institution and the only college student on the list of winners – the other recipients were from U.S.-based universities.
“This achievement is not only motivating for me, on my journey, but it also reminds every student in my program to be confident,” said Thach, noting that the award demonstrates to his classmates they are strong enough to compete with university students.
Thach is excited to attend the event in March where he will expand his knowledge about food auditing and to get to know more people in the industry .
Thach currently lives in Niagara Falls. He initially came to NC from Vietnam when he began in Hospitality five years ago as an international student and returned for Culinary Innovation and Food Technology in 2022 as domestic student, after becoming a permanent resident.
The scholarship will help support him as he continues his program – including a co-op during summer 2024 and he has big plans for the future.
“I want to achieve leadership in next three to -five years, so this winning helps me come closer to my goals,” said Thach.
Thach found out about the scholarship through the program. To be eligible, applicants had to complete at least two years of college, have a minimum grade-point average of 3.2 and complete an internship in a food or agriculture science degree program preferred. While Thach hasn’t yet begun co-op for his program, he works part-time as Research Assistant in Niagara College Food and Beverage Innovation Centre, which helped him meet the requirement. Applicants had to submit a cover letter explaining their interest and career goals in accredited food safety auditing and provides examples that demonstrate why they are deserving of this scholarship. They were also required to submit a letter or transcript from the school verifying they meets the minimum 3.2 Grade Point Average requirement and two recommendation letters from professors.
“Food safety auditors are the backbone of our industry, working tirelessly to ensure the foods sold at the grocery store safely enrich and nourish lives,” said Executive Director of the FMI Foundation, David Fikes in a FMI Foundation news release. “Our scholarship recipients, who represent the cream of the crop in this specialized area, get to network with seasoned veterans, with both groups reaping benefits from their exchanges. It is thrilling to watch the scholars learn and to see the innovative ideas they bring to the industry.”
For additional information about the FMI Foundation and its scholarship program, visit FMI.org/Foundation. For information about the Safe Quality Food Institute, visit SQFI.com.
