2020 Hormel Foods Charitable Trust Scholarship Recipients

The scholarships were awarded through the company’s Charitable Trust fund to select high school seniors entering undergraduate colleges in the fall of 2020.

Hormel Foods has provided funds for the scholarship program since 1966. Scholarship recipients were selected by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Evanston, Ill. NMSC’s goal is to help academically talented students obtain college scholarships.

Criteria for the award included each applicant meeting stringent NMSC requirements, which included scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, scholarship abilities, involvement in school and community activities and leadership qualities.

Rory Bickler
Rory attended Pacelli High School in Austin, Minn. She is the daughter of Robyn Bickler and Ryan Bickler, senior systems programmer at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Emily Bollum
Emily attended Austin High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in agricultural business and management. She is the daughter of Mary Bollum and Cory Bollum, director of pork operations and procurement at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Diego Galdamez
Diego attended Hayfield High School in Hayfield, Minn., and plans to major in computer science. He is the son of Carlos Galdamez and Melissa Rossman, quality control manager at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Jade Haase
Jade attended Monona Grove High School in Monona, Wis. She is the daughter of Tanya Haase and Paul Haase, business development manager at the Chicago (Ill.) Sales Office.

Madison Herrick
Madison attended Austin High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in elementary education. She is the daughter of Shannon Herrick and Jeremy Herrick, production planner at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Brice Klabunde
Brice attended Cameron Senior High in Cameron, Wis., and plans to major in engineering. He is the son of Daric Klabunde and Tammi Klabunde, cost accountant at Jennie-O Barron (Wis.) Plant.

Alysa Morrison
Alysa attended Stillman Valley High School in Stillman Valley, Ill., and plans to major in pre-law studies. She is the daughter of Melissa Morrison and Scott Morrison, human resources manager at Rochelle (Ill.) Foods.

Abigail Muller
Abigail attended Austin High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in creative writing. She is the daughter of Karla Muller and Tony Muller, research scientist at R&D (Austin, Minn.).

Rachel Nelsen
Rachel attended Pacelli High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in pre-law studies. She is the daughter of Jacob Nelsen, senior brand manager at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.), and Sarah Nelsen, lawyer at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Joshua Olson
Joshua attended Forest City High School in Forest City, Iowa, and plans to major in business administration. He is the son of Melanie Olson and Jesse Olson, IT manager at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Ariana Shapinsky
Ariana attended Austin High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in marketing. She is the daughter of Nathaniel Shapinsky and Katherine Shapinsky, retired senior analyst at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Abigail Teisinger
Abigail attended Willmar Senior High School in Willmar, Minn., and plans to major in criminal justice. She is the daughter of Gregg Teisinger and Heather Teisinger, director of purchasing at Jennie-O Corporate Office (Willmar, Minn.).

Bethany Tschosik
Bethany attended Maize High School in Maize, Kan., and plans to major in nursing. She is the daughter of Janet Tschosik and Jeffrey Tschosik, production superintendent at Dold Foods (Wichita, Kan.).

Jacob Venenga
Jacob attended Austin High School in Austin, Minn., and plans to major in biology/biological sciences. He is the son of Kimber Venenga and Steve Venenga, vice president of Grocery Products marketing at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Kristen Watkins
Kristen attended Rochester Lourdes High School in Rochester, Minn., and plans to major in environmental studies. She is the daughter of Lawrence Watkins and Wendy Watkins, vice president of corporate communications at the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.).

Heather Willmott
Heather attended Indianola High School in Indianola, Iowa, and plans to major in biological and biomedical sciences. She is the daughter of Colleen Willmott and Charles Willmott, quality control manager at Osceola (Iowa) Food.