Announcing the 2025 ADPI Scholarship Recipients

Established in 2022, the Phillip Tong Educational Scholarship honors Dr. Tong’s contributions to the training and development of individuals in the dairy industry. Dr. Tong served as the Director of Dairy Science, Education, and Research for ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More from 2016 to 2021 and is Professor Emeritus of Cal-Poly State University. This year, two deserving students received the 2023 Phillip Tong Education Scholarship.

 

Haley Daubert from Harrisonburg, Virginia, will be a senior this fall at South Dakota State University, studying dairy manufacturing with minors in biology, food safetyFocus on avoiding bad events and harm to consumers. More, and health science. During her time at South Dakota State, she has worked in the South Dakota State University Dairy Plant, where she has learned about the process of developing various dairy products, including cheese and ice cream. She also served as a 2023 South Dakota Dairy Ambassador and worked closely with Midwest Dairy and Dairy Management Inc. This summer, Haley will be working at Sargento Cheese as a food safetyFocus on avoiding bad events and harm to consumers. More intern, where she looks to gain experience, skills, and connections to enter the industry in a safetyFocus on avoiding bad events and harm to consumers. More manager role at a dairy processing facility.

 

Elisabeth Thomas from Penn Yan, New York, is currently a student at Penn State University pursuing her degree in Food Science. As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Harte’s Dairy Lab at Penn State, Elisabeth has gained invaluable hands-on experience in dairy science. Her first semester focused on developing fundamental lab skills, learning to measure and weigh materials with precision while building a strong foundation for future research. Her research focuses on making a fat and protein dispersion (amorphousWithout structure. Example: Amorphous lactose is lactose without structure. See also glass solid dispersions), eliminating the need for stabilizersBind water molecules or form networks that keep water from moving freely. Examples: gelatin, modified cellulose, starch, agar-agar, pectin, casein and whey proteins. More, and aiming to promote clean labeling. This experience has enhanced her passion for research, reinforcing a desire to continue exploring dairy science throughout her undergraduate years and pursue graduate studies to further contribute to innovation in the field. As a Schreyer Honors student, Elisabeth is committed to academic excellence and continuous learning. For her master’s thesis, she hopes to continue dairy-focused research and further contribute to the evolving field of clean labeling with the ultimate goal of bringing innovative problem-solving skills to the dairy industry, particularly in simplifying ingredient lists for dairy products. She is especially interested in product development, where she can combine her technical expertise with creativity to improve both the qualityFocus on doing things well and producing a product acceptable to consumers More and marketability of dairy products.

 

Since 2009, ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More has been awarding the Jim Page Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was established in memory of James J. Page, who enjoyed a distinguished marketing career in the dairy industry and served as the CEO of ADPIAmerican Dairy Products Institute More from 2002 through 2008. Three deserving students received this year’s Jim Page Memorial Scholarships.

 

Allison Gable from Lawtons, New York, has recently received her Associate’s degree in Dairy Science and Agriculture Business Management from the State University of New York at Cobleskill. Allison has worked for the Western New York Crop Management organization, gaining knowledge in crop science. She has also served as a New York State Dairy Ambassador, advocating for agriculture and the dairy industry. As Allison enters Cornell University this fall to continue her education, she envisions a career that combines dairy management with industry advocacy.

 

Andrea Maccabee from Twin Falls, Idaho, is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering with a minor in sociology from Purdue University. A Presidential Scholarship recipient, Andrea has interned with the Idaho Milk Products in the Engineering Department, where she completed a variety of tasks focusing on data collection and analysis of various plant processes, with a particular focus on milk permeatePortion of the milk that crosses or permeates an ultrafiltration membrane. Milk permeate contains lactose, minerals and nonprotein nitrogen. May also be known as dairy product solids. More processing and drying. This summer, Andrea has accepted an internship at Glanbia Nutritionals as an Engineering Intern to gain additional knowledge and industry skills in dairy processing, preparing her for a post-graduation career. Through her internships, Andrea has discovered that she enjoys working in the plant floor environment, interacting with various departments, and having a hands-on role in plant operations and projects. After graduation, Andrea aspires to remain in the dairy industry, pursuing a career as a project engineer.

 

Mariana Fernández Cervantes from Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, is a food engineering student at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey. Motivated to merge innovative science with industry applications to address current and emerging challenges in the food sector, Mariana continues to build her knowledge in food science, bromatology, microbiology, sustainable practices, and product development by studying abroad, gaining a global perspective on current advancements in food science. This opportunity will not only enable her to explore groundbreaking technologies but also to immerse herself in diverse cultural contexts that foster collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. Mariana looks forward to pursuing a Master’s degree in Food Innovation and Product Design. This summer, Marina will represent her university at the 35th Annual IFTSA and Mars Product Development Competition, held in conjunction with IFT.