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The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) announced the 21 recipients of the 2025 Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship. Each student will receive a one-year, $2,500 scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.
"Congratulations to this year's scholarship recipients," said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. "We're proud to support these exceptional students as they pursue their goals. Their drive, talent, and determination reflect the very best of our industry's future, and we're honored to invest in their success."
Recipients are chosen by a panel of judges who review each applicant's academic record, school and community involvement, recommendations and a submitted essay. Current employees, their children and the children of company owners who are PFMA members are eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Named for the parents of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, the Ridge Scholarship honors Thomas R. Ridge, a member of the food industry for 25 years, and his wife Laura, a great advocate of education for Tom Ridge, his brother David and sister Vikki. PFMA has awarded over $1.3 million to nearly 654 students since introducing the scholarship in 1995. Scholarship funds come from PFMA's Education Trust and sponsoring PFMA members The GIANT Co., Karns Foods, Rutter's and Sheetz.
Local scholarship recipients are:
– Austin Burk of Altoona, who plans to attend Penn State Altoona to major in cybersecurity analytics and operations (sponsored by the Giant Co).
– Zachary Letso of Patton, who plans to attend the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to major in dentistry (sponsored by Sheetz).