Ten young people, either still in college or at the start of their careers, had the opportunity to attend the National Ethanol Conference last week in Orlando on a scholarship, courtesy of the Renewable Fuels Foundation.

The recipients of the Robert Sather Memorial Scholarship included five college students and five members of the Renewable Fuels Association’s Young Professionals Network. The aim of the scholarship is to reach young adults aspiring to a career related to renewable fuels, open new doors for them, and present new perspectives on ethanol’s place in our world today and in the future.

Shalom Igbo, a third year PhD candidate at the University of Florida, is developing mathematical models for biofuel optimization. “I looked up the Renewable Fuels Association because my research closely aligns with what the organization is trying to achieve and I felt that I should apply and that I would have a good chance of coming to the National Ethanol Conference,” said Igbo.

Verena Hopkins, sales representative at IFF, became a member of RFA’s YPN when she moved from production to sales. “I was looking for a position where you could have more interaction with people, you can try to help solve their problems. A good day in production is a boring day, a day that nothing that is crazy happens. And I wanted a little bit more crazy days. So the sales side of it really caught my attention. So I’m excited for that.”

Listen to interviews with four of the scholarship award winners here:

Samantha Cookson, University of Ottawa
NEC26 interview - Samantha Cookson, scholarship winner (2:10)
Shalom Iboh, University of Florida
NEC26 interview - Shalom Iboh, scholarship winner (2:21)
Kayla McCaslin, Valero Energy, YPN scholarship winner
NEC26 interview - Kayla McCaslin, YPN scholarship winner (1:26)
Verena Hopkins, sales representative at IFF, YPN scholarship winner
NEC26 interview - Verena Hopkins, YPN scholarship winner (3:01)