The CGA Educational Foundation scholarship program will award 408 college scholarships totaling a record-breaking $809,750 to students across the grocery industry, including the top scholarship recipient Michael Weir, Assistant Store Manager for Smart & Final in Bakersfield. Weir is a senior at California State University Bakersfield pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
“During a time when the education system, generally, has been upended by the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to continue to support the academic journey of the industry’s workforce,“ said CGA Educational Foundation Chair Jacquie Slobom, who is senior director of store operations at Gelson’s Markets and has been Foundation Chair since 2019.
“That the commitment to the scholarship program grew at a time when the industry has been strained by the day-to-day demands placed on the grocery community is outstanding.”
The CGA Educational Foundation’s largest award is the Legends of the Industry scholarship, which was created in 2017. As this year’s recipient, Weir was awarded $10,000 towards his pursuit of a career in the grocery industry. Having started his grocery career and higher education journey in 2012, the Legends of the Industry scholarship marks a significant investment in building a lasting career in the grocery community.
“Michael’s work ethic is an inspiration,” said CGA Educational Foundation Director Brianne Page. “Not only has he maintained a full-time job with Smart & Final, but he’s also a full-time student, a father to two young children, and an active volunteer in his community.”
Weir’s story will be covered in depth in the upcoming Issue 3 of California Grocer magazine. To learn more about the CGA Educational Foundation, visit cgaef.org.