NAMA
FOUR STUDENTS WIN NAMA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS
Winners Selected at Spring Expo

CHICAGO, IL - April 30 - Four students whose parents are employed by National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) member companies were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship by the NAMA Foundation, NAMA Director of Education and Meeting Services LyNae Schleyer announced today. The winners, selected at the recent NAMA Spring Expo in Las Vegas, were Trenton Western of Westford MA; Jillian Schnoes of Remsen, Iowa; Jason Oliver of Portland, Oregon; and Shawn Hilton of Portland, NY.

In announcing the scholarship Schleyer said, "We're delighted to award these scholarships on behalf of the NAMA Foundation and extend our best wishes to each winner. The Foundation is committed to supporting charitable and educational initiatives, and we are proud that we can offer scholarships like these to the children of our member companies."

Jillian Schnoes, who was sponsored by Well's Dairy, Inc., is currently a freshman at Iowa State University where she is majoring in Advertising and International Business with a minor in Spanish. She plans to study in Spain during the second semester of her junior year, and enjoys intramural sports such as basketball, softball and volleyball. She also serves as secretary of the Willow-Hall Student Council and works as a waitress at O'Malley and McGees Mexican restaurant in Ames.

Jason Oliver, who was sponsored by Canteen of Portland, is currently attending Oregon State University where he is studying Horticulture, Business Administration and Turf Management. He plans to graduate with high honors and eventually become a golf course superintendent. He has two brothers, Chris and Ryan, and enjoys school, family and friends, golf, bowling, golf course maintenance, community involvement and the Oregon State Turf Club.

Shawn Hilton, who was sponsored by Welch's, currently attends Westfield Academy and Central School in Westfield, New York. He has two brothers, Ryan, age 11, and Brandon who is 10. He enjoys hunting, fishing, baseball, golf and football. He plans to attend Jamestown Community College and work toward an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts Science.

Trenton Western, who was sponsored by Welch's, is planning to attend the University of Rhode Island where he will study Business. An avid sports enthusiast, Western enjoys organized soccer, basketball and volleyball.

According to Schleyer, the NAMA Foundation awarded four scholarships to students whose parents are employed by NAMA member companies. Students were also required to have graduated from high school with a passing cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent, and be currently enrolled or accepted at an accredited business or junior college. The four winners were selected by random from all eligible entries at the organization's recent trade show in Las Vegas.

Concluded NAMA President and CEO Richard M. Geerdes, "Of all the programs sponsored by the NAMA Foundation, scholarships are critical because they help shape the next generation of leaders. We thank all the people who worked so hard to make the donation possible, and wish the students well as they work to achieve their career goals."

The NAMA Foundation was established in 1982 to focus on charitable, educational and scientific initiatives. Special projects funded by the foundation include the Hudson Report and the NAMA Endowed Professorship at Michigan State University.

NAMA is the national trade association of the merchandise vending, office coffee service and contract food service industries. Its membership is comprised of service companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers of products and services to operating service companies. The basic mission of the association, to collectively advance and promote the automatic merchandising and OCS industries, still guides NAMA today as it did in 1936, the year of the organization's founding.