Zachary Mercer is a 2022 IFMA Education Foundation internship stipend recipient. He attends Kansas State University and is studying food service management.
Zachary Mercer - Program: Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science
Zach’s story:
I am in my junior year at Kansas State University studying dietetics. My future plans include obtaining my Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential and finding a job in food production and service management.
I currently work for Kansas State Housing and Dining as an Undergraduate Management Assistant at Derby Dining Center where I assist the full-time management staff with long-term and day-to-day operations including managing our student workers, helping prepare and cook food, serving food, recruitment, training, and many other additional duties that contribute to over 2000 meals served daily.
Additional to my participation at Kansas State University I also serve in the Kansas Air National Guard at the 284th Air Support Operation Squadron as a Radio Frequency Transmission Systems Technician.
How the scholarship will help Zach, in his own words:
I am a first-generation college student coming from a low- to middle-income family and paying for college completely out of my own pocket. It is challenging but I know that my education will have an unprecedented effect on the rest of my life in knowledge, experiences, and relationships built during my college years.
Awards like this gives me another reason to continue in a foodservice management career path and continue to give back just as you have done. I truly value this award because of the financial relief it will provide.
About The IFMA Education Foundation
The IFMA Education Foundation promotes the next generation of foodservice leaders. The Foundation is committed to giving qualified culinary, marketing or food science students support to complete their education requirements. We accomplish our goal by providing scholarships, publications, educational programs, internships, and stipends to accredited institutions and individuals enrolled in them.
Support the IFMA Education Foundation and the future of foodservice by making a donation