The New York Institute of Food Technologists (NYIFT) is proud to announce its Student Awards Program. The NYIFT along with its Central New Jersey subsection will again sponsor scholarship awards.
Poster Competition for presenting at Student Night and at the Annual Suppliers Day will be held. These awards represent the NYIFT’s commitment to the growth of up and coming Food Scientists. We’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you to participate in these programs and wish those who do GOOD LUCK!
Deadlines & Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| All Scholarship Applications (including dependent) due | January 12th, 2026 |
| Scholarship Judging for Rutgers | January 30th, 2026 |
| Poster Applications deadline | February 9th, 2026 |
| Student Night & Poster Judging day | February 19th, 2026 |
NYIFT Scholarships
The Scholarships are awarded to those academically qualified students who are selected by the Awards Committee following personal interviews.
Eligibility
To be eligible for one of these scholarships:
- The candidate must be a student at the time of the application
- Candidate must have paid their IFT and NY Section membership dues for that year
- Candidate must have a GPA of 3.0 or better
- Candidate applying for the Dependent Scholarship must have a parent who is an IFT and NYIFT Member
- All submissions for undergraduate and graduate scholarships should be submitted by the deadline.
Student Night
Awards will be presented at Student Night. Recipients are invited to attend as guests of NYIFT. Previous recipients are encouraged to continue their participation. Montclair students can share their posters at Student Night, but not the competition. If you’d like to present at Student Night, contact us so we can have an easel for you.
| Scholarship | About | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent | One (1) scholarship available. Awards $1,500 to a dependent of an NYIFT member. | The student must be a Senior in high school or a student at a College/University/Institution. |
| Rutgers | Six (6) scholarships available to Rutgers Food Science students. Graduate awards are $2,000 each. Undergraduate awards are $1,500 each. | Must be undergraduate and/or graduate students, enrolled in Rutgers Food Science program. |
| Montclair | Two (2) scholarships available. 1 graduate award for $2,000 and 1 undergraduate award $1,500. | Must be an undergraduate and/or graduate student in one the following programs: B.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science (Food Science Concentration), M.S. degree in Nutrition and Food Science. |
Rutgers University Poster Competition
Rutgers University students are also eligible to present their research via a Poster Presentation. Winners will present at the NYIFT Student Night.
Poster presentations will be judged by the Awards Committee prior to Student Night. Monetary awards will be presented to the top three presenters at Student Night.
| Place | Amount Awarded |
|---|---|
| First Place | $750 |
| Second Place | $500 |
| Third Place | $400 |
All students participating in the Poster presentation are invited to stay for dinner free of charge.This year, all those who submit a Poster, will have the opportunity to exhibit their poster at the NYIFT Suppliers Day on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Birchwood Manor.
All reasonable material costs associated with preparation of the posters will be reimbursed by the NYIFT. Reimbursement of expenses will be handled through the Food Science Club. Receipts for poster supplies are required.
Download NYIFT Poster Competition Guidelines
Apply for the Poster CompetitionThese scholarships are only a small part of what the NYIFT and its Central New Jersey subsection have to offer. To gain a better understanding about the Food Industry and to meet professionals involved in the industry, all you have to do is to attend the monthly meetings. The cost to you is your time and a nominal (subsidized) cost for your meal.
The rewards are truly immeasurable! We hope to see you at meetings. If you have any questions, contact us.