WMU food marketing student receives national scholarship
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Hailey Granich, a student at Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business, recently received a competitive FMS Solutions Holdings Legacy Scholarship in the amount of $3,000 from the National Grocers Association (NGA) Foundation.
Granich, a junior majoring in food and consumer package goods marketing, is also in the Lee Honors College. She has been a member of the Food Marketing Association student group since 2021, recently taking on a role on the Professional Engagement Team within the organization.
“Earning this scholarship is a huge honor for me,” says Granich. “To even be considered for the scholarship reinforces my decision to choose this field. This award has given me the confidence that I am on the right career path. It gives me financial freedom and allows me to focus on my education. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to continue my work with independent grocers.”
One of Granich’s mentors, Dr. Russell Zwanka, associate professor of marketing, always saw this potential in her. “Hailey is the only student in the WMU food and consumer package goods marketing program to be selected as a scholarship winner, and it is a testament to her drive and initiative that she stood out amongst her peers and other candidates nationally. She has an excellent future in leadership in our Food Marketing Association, as well as the food industry. We are exceptionally proud of her.”
Granich has found the food marketing program very fulfilling as she has become more immersed in the major throughout the last few semesters. “Entering Western and the Haworth College of Business with little idea of where I would and could go was challenging. Fortunately, I was able to meet incredibly supportive professors in Dr. Russell Zwanka and Dr. Marcel Zondag whose help and guidance I will be forever grateful for—this program has been such an amazing opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”
About the NGA Foundation Scholarships
The NGA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association, honored 18 students planning careers with independent grocers this year.
“We are proud to ensure that our industry’s future will be in good hands by assisting these talented individuals in their pursuit of higher education and career goals,” says Chelsea Matzen, NGA Foundation director. “We also applaud our members for their ongoing investment in grocery’s next generation of leaders.”
At the core of the NGA Foundation grants are the Asparagus Club scholarships, which have been offered by the club since its inception in 1967. The Asparagus Club Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $1 million to students pursuing careers in the independent grocery industry.
Legacy scholarships are awards given in the name of an individual or individuals who contribute directly to the fund each year. These scholarships are designed to acknowledge and continue the legacy of those individuals and organizations and their contribution to the independent grocery industry.
NGA Foundation scholarships are merit-based, although financial need is taken into consideration.
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