Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship
Offered by National Pork Producers Council
About This Scholarship
The Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship honors a longtime pork industry leader and University of Mount Olive advocate, and it has become the pork sector's flagship undergraduate award. Sponsored by CME Group and the National Pork Industry Foundation and administered by the National Pork Producers Council, the program awards ten $2,500 scholarships each year to undergraduates preparing for careers in the pork industry.
Eligibility is refreshingly broad within its niche: current undergraduates in either two-year swine programs or four-year agricultural programs qualify, so community college students in swine technology compete on equal footing with university animal science majors. High school students are not eligible, and applicants must be U.S. citizens.
The heart of the application is a 750-word essay describing a current or emerging issue facing the pork industry - think disease pressure, labor, trade, or animal housing policy - along with practical solutions and an explanation of how the applicant's future career will help implement them. Two reference letters from professors or industry professionals round out the packet. Winners are traditionally recognized at the National Pork Industry Forum in March.
Eligibility
- Current undergraduate in a two-year swine program or four-year agricultural program
- U.S. citizen
- High school students are not eligible
- Pursuing a career in the pork industry
- Essay of 750 words or less on a current or emerging pork industry issue, plus two reference letters
How To Apply
- Assemble a cover sheet, a letter describing your intended role in the pork industry, the 750-word issue essay, and two letters of reference from professors or industry professionals. Submit through NPPC's online form, by email to [email protected], or by mail to the NPPC Des Moines office by December 11, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can community college students win this scholarship?
Yes. Students in two-year swine programs are explicitly eligible alongside undergraduates in four-year agricultural programs.
What should the essay cover?
A current or emerging issue facing the pork industry, practical solutions to it, and how your future career will support implementing those solutions - all in 750 words or less.
How many students win each year?
Ten students each receive $2,500, and recipients are typically announced at the National Pork Industry Forum in early March.