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Meet the 11 Students Selected to Receive a 2026 Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award

Meet the 11 Students Selected to Receive a 2026 Dr. Ron Schmidt Student Travel Award

April 29, 2026
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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.

Heading to the 2026 Summit

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:

  • Present original research during dedicated poster sessions.
  • Network with industry leaders, including equipment fabricators, food processors, and regulators.
  • Participate in Summit sessions covering equipment fabrication, inspection, and cleaning strategies.

“These extraordinary students are pursuing meaningful research that can help solve real-world food safety challenges,” says 3-A SSI Chair John Kuhnz.

The 2026 Award Recipients:

  • Sweta Deb (Cornell University)
  • Suhan Bheemaiah Balyatanda (Kansas State University)
  • Joshua Housley (Cornell University)
  • Abdulaziz Jallow (University of Delaware)
  • Kristen Shoemake (Texas Tech University)
  • Philip Junior Yeboah (University of Florida)
  • Monica Morales (Texas Tech University)
  • Vaishali Poswal (South Dakota State University)
  • Dharshika Sugumaran (Louisiana State University)
  • Sandhya Thapa (Tennessee State University)
  • Babak Faraji Gougerdchi (Virginia Tech)

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!

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See Photos From the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design

Check out our professional photographer's pics from the 3-A SSI 2026 Summit on Hygienic Design.

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