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The future of global food safety is being written in the labs and dairy plants of our leading universities. Today, we are proud to announce the 11 recipients of the 2026 Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award.
These exceptional students aren't just studying food science; they are solving real-world challenges. From investigating Listeria persistence in dairy plants to engineering nanotextured stainless steel surfaces, their work underscores the critical bridge between academic research and industry innovation.
These winners will travel to the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design, May 4 to 7 at the Marriott Chicago O'Hare. This isn’t just a trip; it’s an immersive professional launchpad. They will:
“These extraordinary students are pursuing meaningful research that can help solve real-world food safety challenges,” says 3-A SSI Chair John Kuhnz.
This award pays tribute to the late Dr. Ronald H. Schmidt, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida and a co-founder of 3-A SSI, continuing his legacy of mentorship and excellence in food safety.
Congratulations to our 2026 winners! We look forward to seeing your presentations in Chicago.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet these students at the Summit! REGISTER NOW!
Check out our professional photographer's pics from the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design.
What's the link between Led Zeppelin and raw flour? Well, it's Kansas State University (KSU) graduate student Suhan Bheemaiah Balyatanda. She received the 2026 Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award and also was a member of the KSU first-place Student Hygienic Design Competition team.
The inaugural class of HyGEN Excellence Award winners shows us the future of the "Gold Standard" is in very good hands.
3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) announces winning teams in the inaugural Student Hygienic Design Competition.
