The National Pork Industry Foundation, a nonprofit research and educational organization led by pork industry leaders and managed by the National Pork Producers Council, recently opened applications for the Neil Dierks Scholarship to honor NPPC’s previous longtime CEO, Neil Dierks.
The $5,000 scholarship is given annually to a college student pursuing a graduate degree at a land-grant university in a field related to the pork industry.
“The National Pork Industry Foundation is privileged and excited to continue this scholarship in Neil’s name,” said Dwight Mogler, a pork producer in northwest Iowa and the NPPC representative on the foundation’s board of directors. “His more than 30 years of dedicated service to the pork industry has included countless contributions, many of which included nurturing future leaders and seeking and elevating talented people with a variety of skills to serve as pork industry resources and decision-makers for today and tomorrow. Therefore, it is very fitting that the foundation honor Neil through this scholarship opportunity.”
Applications for the scholarship, which are funded through contributions to the pork industry foundation, are due at the end of December, with each year’s recipient announced at the pork industry’s annual meeting—the National Pork Industry Forum—which will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from March 5 to 7, 2024.
The Neil Dierks scholarship program compliments the Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship, which the National Pork Industry Foundation sponsors along with the CME Group. Named after the late NPPC board member Lois Britt, the program annually gives $2,500 scholarships to 10 college undergraduates intending to pursue careers in the pork industry. NPPC administers the program, and winners are announced at the National Pork Industry Forum.
Full eligibility and application requirements can be found here. Application deadline is Dec. 31. Please contact Lucy Russell, NPPC manager of producer engagement, with any questions about the scholarship at 515-864-7983 or [email protected].
For more information on the Neil Dierks Scholarship and on making a contribution to the National Pork Industry Foundation, please visit the NPIF webpage.
