Camp Hill, PA – The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association announced that Rishabh Jain of Downingtown STEM Academy has been named the 2026 PA DECA Scholar, supported by PFMA. Jain, a senior at Downingtown STEM Academy, has distinguished himself through academic excellence, entrepreneurial leadership, and a deep commitment to DECA at the chapter, district, state, and international levels.
Over four years in DECA, Jain has competed in Entrepreneurship events, earning first place at the Pennsylvania State Career Development Conference and placing fourth internationally at the International Career Development Conference, where he also received a top exam award with a 92 percent score. He currently serves as Pennsylvania DECA District 6 Representative, leading conference planning efforts and supporting chapter development across the region.
In addition to his competitive success, Jain has taken on significant leadership roles, including Vice President of Finance for his chapter, where he helped manage more than $200,000 in chapter funds. He launched cluster exam practice sessions attended by more than 60 students and contributed to the development of ClusterMaxx, a platform supporting DECA members nationwide. Beyond the classroom, he founded a youth basketball coaching business and organized a community mental health initiative for teens, reflecting his goal of becoming a social entrepreneur.
“I am incredibly grateful to the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association for this scholarship and for their continued investment in student leaders across the state. This support not only recognizes my work through DECA, but also motivates me to continue pursuing excellence in business and leadership,” said Rishabh Jain.
“Rishabh represents exactly the kind of driven, thoughtful, and community-focused leader we’re proud to support,” said Alex Baloga, President and CEO of PFMA. “Through DECA, students gain real-world business skills that translate directly into leadership in the food and beverage industry and beyond. We’re excited to see what he accomplishes next.”
PFMA’s support of the PA DECA Scholarship underscores its commitment to strengthening the talent pipeline for Pennsylvania’s Food and Beverage Industry. By investing in student leaders, PFMA helps ensure the next generation is prepared with the business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship skills needed to grow and sustain the industry.
For more information about PFMA and its education and workforce initiatives, visit www.pfma.org.
About PFMA
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has advocated for the food and beverage industry across the Commonwealth since 1952. Today the association represents nearly 500 member companies from across the globe that operate thousands of retail food stores, production facilities and distribution centers, and collectively employ more than 350,000 Pennsylvanians. For more information on PFMA, visit pfma.org.
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