Network of Executive Women Offers Scholarships

The Network of Executive Women, Consumer Products and Retail is accepting applications for its annual merit scholarships awarded to outstanding women students in food, retail and consumer products-related studies in the United States.

Qualified female graduate and undergraduate students interested in a career in food, retailing or consumer products management may download the application at www.newonline.org/scholarships. Deadline is May 1.

The Network of Executive Women, the largest diversity organization serving the consumer products and retail industry, has raised more than $100,000 in scholarships. “The generous scholarships NEW awards to deserving students have been instrumental in attracting the best and brightest women into the CPG and food retail industry,” said NEW scholarship chairwoman Joy Nicholas, national account executive for WorldPay. “The scholarship recipients are introduced to the industry at the annual NEW Leadership Summit and are great ambassadors for the Network when they return to their universities.”

In 2010, NEW awarded scholarships to three students pursuing careers in retailing and the consumer products industry: Bethany Haefner of Fayetteville, Ark.; Lashawndra Lawrence of Auburn, Ala.; and Ashley Benson of Warrington, Pa.

Haefner plans to graduate from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in May 2012 with a master of business administration degree. She interned as a category advisor with the Hershey Co. and worked on sustainability packaging scorecards with a team at the Scotts Co.

Lawrence is scheduled to graduate this May from Tuskegee University with a master of science degree in food science. She has worked as a food product and development laboratory graduate researcher at the university and has experience as a biochemistry lab undergraduate researcher.

Benson anticipates graduating in May from St. Joseph’s University with a bachelor of science degree in food marketing. She has worked as a management intern at Wegmans Food Markets and served as a student intern at the National Grocers Association’s convention.

Founded in 2001, the Network of Executive Women, Consumer Products and Retail Industry has more than 3,300 members from more than 300 companies and 72 corporate sponsors in 17 regions in the United States and Canada.