PFMA awards Ridge Scholarships to 21 students in 2026

The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) is pleased to recognize the 21 recipients of the 2026 Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship. Each student will receive a one-year, $2,500 scholarship for the 2026–27 academic year.

“For more than 30 years, the Ridge Scholarship has helped PFMA members and their families take the next step in their education,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “This year’s recipients are pursuing an incredible range of fields and careers, and we’re proud to support their hard work and invest in what comes next for each of them.”

Recipients are selected by an independent panel of judges based on academic achievement, excellence of character, community involvement and leadership. Eligible applicants include qualifying employees of PFMA member companies, their children or stepchildren, and children or stepchildren of PFMA member store owners.

Named for the parents of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, the Ridge Scholarship honors Thomas R. Ridge, who was a member of the Pennsylvania food industry for 25 years, and his wife, Laura, a strong advocate for the education of their children, Tom, David and Vikki.

Since establishing the scholarship in 1995, PFMA has awarded more than $1.3 million to students pursuing higher education. This year, PFMA and scholarship sponsors will provide $52,500 to 21 students for the 2026–27 academic year.

Scholarship recipients are:

• • Caden Chow, of Hummelstown, Pa., plans to attend Boston University to major in Biomedical Engineering. (The GIANT Company)

  • Ella Campisano, of Palmyra, Pa., plans to attend Mount St. Mary’s University to double major in Biochemistry and Chemistry. (The GIANT Company)

  • Ella Heap, of York, Pa., plans to attend West Chester University to major in Political Science. (The GIANT Company)

  • Cole Klein, of Newville, Pa., plans to attend Penn State University to major in Finance. (The GIANT Company)

  • Shelby Zimmerman, of Greencastle, Pa., plans to attend Shippensburg University to major in Art Education with K–12 certification. (The GIANT Company)

  • Mia Catania, of Camp Hill, Pa., plans to attend Penn State University to major in Physics. (Karns Foods)

  • Kylee Thomas, of Mountville, Pa., plans to attend Messiah University to major in Actuarial Science. (Rutter’s)

  • Travis Noecker, of Hamburg, Pa., plans to attend Arcadia University to major in Biology. (Rutter’s)

  • Allison Brunner, of Chambersburg, Pa., plans to attend Shippensburg University to major in Psychology. (Rutter’s)

  • Peter Wasef, of Lancaster, Pa., plans to attend West Chester University to major in Political Science. (Rutter’s)

  • Brandon Thomas, of Stewartstown, Pa., plans to attend Millersville University to major in Emergency Management. (Rutter’s)

  • Kaylee Venslosky, of Colver, Pa., plans to attend Mount Aloysius College to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. (Sheetz)

  • Mattie Burket, of East Freedom, Pa., plans to attend Mount Aloysius College to major in Ultrasonography. (Sheetz)

  • Venkat Subramanian, of Bridgewater, N.J., plans to attend Princeton University to major in Computer Science. (David and Kathy McCorkle)

  • Tayla Dusharm, of Millerstown, Pa., plans to attend Shippensburg University to major in Social Work. (PFMA)

  • Jordan Nell, of Shippensburg, Pa., plans to attend Liberty University to major in Business with a concentration in Project Management. (PFMA)

  • Lydia DeFacis, of Mifflinburg, Pa., plans to attend Elizabethtown College to major in Occupational Therapy. (PFMA)

  • Maya Bava, of Conshohocken, Pa., plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh to major in Molecular Biology. (PFMA)

  • Lydia Herr, of Lancaster, Pa., plans to attend Messiah University to major in Psychology. (PFMA)

  • Margaret Gotfredson, of Abingdon, Md., plans to attend Brigham Young University in Provo to major in Communication Disorders. (PFMA)

  • Spencer Faircloth, of Martinsburg, W.Va., plans to attend Blue Ridge Community and Technical College to major in Political Science. (PFMA)

    PFMA congratulates all 21 recipients and wishes them continued success during the 2026–27 academic year and beyond.