The Jessica Gavin Scholarship Program is awarding $500 scholarships to deserving students who author a winning essay in our bi-annual Essay Contest.
Jessica Gavin is a Certified Food Scientist and Certified Culinary Scientist. She has a passion for educating consumers about the products they eat. As a research scientist, she feels fortunate to advocate for nutritional food and beverage products. Helping others with education and expertise in the food industry is one of her greatest rewards.
Globally the food industry is incredible, but it could use more exceptional individuals with a passion for advancing the science and technology of food. For Jessica Gavin’s bi-annual scholarship program, we are pleased to support any future professional interested in the food industry.
Essay Topic
Please tell us how you intend to use your education to find solutions to the food challenges facing humanity. In a brief narrative, start with an introduction about who you are (your name and school), your area of study, and anything else you feel we should know about you. Then, please provide your entry in a 750-1000 words essay.
Judging Criteria
The scholarship will be awarded to the applicant who best demonstrates a genuine desire and goal of fixing problems or improving conditions in our food supply. Worthy deeds that you have already performed will be considered.
Scholarship Dates
- Spring Deadline: (CLOSED) The deadline for submitting essays is December 15, 2023. The winner will be announced on February 1, 2024.
- Fall Deadline: (NOW ACCEPTING) The deadline for submitting essays is July 15, 2024. The winner will be announced on September 1, 2024.
General Eligibility
To be eligible for our scholarship contest, you must be a current undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in a science or technology program. Students with full academic scholarships are not eligible to enter this contest.
Proof of enrollment must be provided:
We will accept digital scans of the following as valid proof of enrollment with your application:
- Unofficial or Official transcript
- Official enrollment verification form
- Acceptance letter on school letterhead
Additionally, you must:
- Submit a readable copy of your entry (only one entry per student is allowed).
- Submit a clear headshot no smaller than 300 pixels (width) of yourself. The image file must be in the following format: .PNG or .JPG.
How to Submit Your Application
Ready to submit? Just fill out our online application form.
Frequently Asked Questions
The winner will be notified by phone, email, and/or U.S. mail after the judging has been completed.
Each $500 award will be paid to the winner one and a half months after the due date. Students must provide proof of enrollment and a University identification number before award disbursement.
The award winner understands and represents that the scholarship monies will be sent directly to the winner’s school and shall be used only for education-related purposes, such as tuition, books, etc.
Legal Disclaimer
Submissions: All content and creative work become the property of Jessica Gavin upon submission and may be reposted or displayed online or through any media channels, in whole or part, without notification. When you send email communications to Jessica Gavin, its agents and/or representatives may retain those communications.
By submitting an application, the applicant grants Jessica Gavin, its agents, and/or representatives permission to post the applicant’s name, school or university, applicant’s photo, and the winning entry on the website https://www.jessicagavin.com (Jessica Gavin) and in other marketing platforms, including but not limited to a blog, social media accounts, and related sites.
The winning applicant also agrees to assist Jessica Gavin and its agents with any tasks they deem reasonable or necessary to help with the above and other promotional activities.
Past Winners
Ariel Garsow
University of Minnesota (Spring 2017)
Samantha Burroughs
Oregon State University (Fall 2017)
Walaa Hussein
The Ohio State University (Spring 2018)
Alyssa Dougherty
Iowa State University (Fall 2018)
Ayna Arora
The Ohio State University (Spring 2019)
Aaliyah Puglia
Johnson & Wales University (Fall 2019)
Jonathan Brumley
University of Idaho (Spring 2020)
Christopher Goh
University of Pennsylvania (Fall 2020)
Leah Ward
Pennsylvania State University (Fall 2021)
Tholen Blasko
Washington State University (Fall 2022)
Trish Le
Chapman University (Fall 2023)
More Resources
The Jessica Gavin Scholarship Program is committed to aiding as many students as possible. However, due to the number of applications and limited resources, we can only award two yearly scholarships. We are sharing the following list of scholarship resources to aid in the quest for financial aid.
Please note the deadlines and eligibility requirements. We wish all students the best as they endeavor to continue their education.
www.finaid.org – links to scholarships, grants, loans, graduate aid
www.studentaid.ed.gov – information from the U.S. Department of Education on preparing for and funding education beyond high school
www.collegeaffordabilityguide.org – this site’s mission is to provide clear, correct info and advice on the many options students have to reduce the cost of their degree, and to offer a fresh analysis of which colleges are doing the most to make high-quality education affordable
www.ift.org – The Institute of Food Technologists offers the most extensive Food Science resources for students and professionals. The site promotes several scholarships for students pursuing food science degrees.
Contact Us
Please use the contact information listed below for information regarding our scholarship programs.
Jessica Gavin Scholarship Program
8502 E. Chapman Ave, #235
Orange, CA 92869
scholarship@jessicagavin.com
