University of Pretoria Food Science Student Wins IFT and PepsiCo’s Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship

CHICAGO – May 14, 2024 – IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund and PepsiCo selected Josiah Muriuki from the University of Pretoria, South Africa as the winner of the joint Academic and Travel Undergraduate Hybrid Scholarship. As the inaugural recipient, Muriuki will receive a $5,000 academic scholarship in addition to a $1,000 travel stipend to IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, set for July 14-17 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to the science of food, meet a minimum grade point average of 3.0 and plan to enroll full- or part-time as a rising sophomore, junior or senior in a food science program.

“Receiving this award holds a profound significance for me on both a personal and professional level,” said Muriuki. “This prestigious accolade not only recognizes my dedication and commitment to the field of food science but also provides me with a transformative opportunity to attend the IFT FIRST conference. The chance to travel to this esteemed event, made possible by this award, represents a culmination of my hard work and aspirations.”

In addition to his academic career as a Bachelor of Science Honours Food Science student at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, Muriuki is the founder of Tule Sote Initiative, a school feeding program committed to providing nutritious and affordable meals to children in underserved areas of Kenya. He also serves as the director of Beta Mentor Africa, where he leads a team of volunteer mentors, successfully connecting young students across the country with academic opportunities and international scholarships. Recently, Muriuki received Social Impact Seed Funding (SISF) from the Aspire Institute, founded by Harvard University faculty.

“Josiah’s academic excellence partnered with his passion for community service made him a natural choice to receive this scholarship,” said Steve Hartley, director of fund development at IFT. “The Feeding Tomorrow Fund and PepsiCo are thrilled to support such a promising student who is already stepping into his role as a leader in our global food system.”

Muriuki is also an active member of the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA), a mission-driven organization that supports student members and chapters and aims to develop the future leaders in the science of food. He was recently elected to the IFTSA Board of Directors, where he will start his one-year term on Sept. 1. While attending IFT FIRST, Muriuki will also have the opportunity to attend the PepsiCo Meet & Greets at the IFTSA Student Lounge. Through its sponsorship of the IFTSA Student Lounge, PepsiCo is connecting its research and development professionals with the attending IFTSA community interested in pursuing R&D as a career path.

“Josiah has already made a tremendous difference in his community, and PepsiCo is beyond proud to support his future career in the science of food,” said Mary Carunchia, Ph.D., Senior Principal Scientist at PepsiCo.

Since 1985, the Institute of Food Technologists through the Feeding Tomorrow Fund has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling over $3 million. In addition to graduate and undergraduate scholarships, IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund also offers scholarship awards for students with specific criteria such as greatest financial need, those transferring from a community college and first-generation college enrollment. To learn more about IFT’s Feeding Tomorrow Fund, visit https://www.ift.org/feeding-tomorrow-fund or stop by the IFT Feeding Tomorrow Fund booth at IFT FIRST located on floor 2.5.