The Mid-Atlantic Food Trade Organization (MAFTO) has awarded its 2026 scholarships to eight college students pursuing studies in fields ranging from business and marketing to medicine, psychology and architecture.
The recipients are Ryan Benjamin, Zach Kilpatrick, Will Kasunich, Catie McGee, Jacob Marryott, Dana Passerman, Elisabeth Rhodes, and Mikaela Watson.
MAFTO, a nonprofit organization serving the food trade and related industries, provides scholarships to children, stepchildren, and grandchildren of qualified members. The organization also maintains a separate scholarship program with the Academy of Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University as part of its effort to support the food industry’s next generation of leaders.
Recipients are selected by the MAFTO Scholarship Committee based on academic achievement, character and their potential for community involvement and leadership. Applicants must be full-time students returning for their sophomore, junior or senior years and submit a transcript, recommendations and personal essay. Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipients’ schools.
MAFTO Scholarship Awardees
Catie McGee is a junior at Saint Mary’s College in Indiana, where she is majoring in marketing with a concentration in finance. She represents the class of 2028 on the college’s class council and serves as outreach coordinator for the Future Business Leaders club. McGee studied abroad in Ireland during the spring 2026 semester and worked during the summer as a marketing intern for Wacker Chemical Corp.
Dana Passerman is a junior at Boston University studying human physiology on a pre-medical track. She serves as secretary of Terpsichore, the university’s treble-voiced a cappella group, and volunteers at Massachusetts General Hospital. Passerman is also pursuing her emergency medical technician certification and plans to work as a campus EMT. She intends to attend medical school and become a physician.
Zach Kilpatrick is a junior biochemistry major at the University of Scranton and a member of the university’s men’s soccer team. He has worked as a pharmacy technician at CVS Pharmacy for the past year, gaining experience in patient care and the pharmaceutical field. Kilpatrick plans to pursue pharmaceutical research and continue his education through graduate or pharmacy school.
Jacob Marryott is entering his senior year at Carlow University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He has been a member of the university’s men’s volleyball team since his freshman year and works with children at YMCA day camps during the summer. Marryott hopes eventually to establish an animal rescue farm.
Will Kasunich, a Pittsburgh resident, is entering his second year at Syracuse University. He is enrolled in the university’s five-year bachelor’s degree program in architecture. His work experience includes serving as a youth hockey instructor and seasonal manager at a county swimming pool. Kasunich said those positions helped him develop his leadership skills and interest in building stronger communities.
Mikaela Watson, of Haddonfield, N.J., is entering her sophomore year at the University of Alabama, where she is studying business. She plans to concentrate in management and minor in sales. Watson is also a member of Alpha Chi Omega and plans to pursue a career in business and sales.
Elizabeth Rhodes is a rising senior at Franklin & Marshall College. She is majoring in psychology, minoring in sociology and pursuing a certificate in education. Rhodes serves as co-president of College Against Cancer and is a member of Chi Omega. During the spring 2026 semester, she studied in Vienna, Austria, where she taught English to third-grade students. Rhodes plans to pursue graduate studies in child psychology and work with children and families through assessment, counseling and advocacy.
Ryan Benjamin is entering his sophomore year at Kutztown University, where he is majoring in business with a concentration in entrepreneurship. He is a member of the Kutztown Golden Bears football team and also trains younger football players. Benjamin plans to become an electrician and eventually own and operate an electrical contracting business serving his community.