Hormel Foods Corporation announced on Monday the recipients of this year’s two $10,000 Hormel Heroes Scholarships.

The Hormel Heroes Scholarship Program was created by Hormel Foods to support students with military backgrounds pursuing degrees in culinary arts or a foodservice management related program and is administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

“Hormel Foods has a long history of supporting the military, and we are proud to provide these scholarships to show our appreciation for students who serve or have served our country and are pursuing careers in the foodservice industry,” said Mark Ourada, group vice president of Foodservice. “Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients, Alisa McKinney and Marie Stimpson, and thank you for your service.”

McKinney is a retired veteran who served over seven years on active duty with the U.S. Army. She completed two tours in Iraq, serving in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. McKinney is a student at the Allegany College of Maryland pursuing degrees in culinary arts and hospitality.

“If it were not for donors like you, students like myself might never have the chance to continue pursuing their educational dreams,” McKinney said. “Thank you for your gift and hospitality. Without it, I would not have been able to continue my education.”

Stimpson is a retired Master Sgt. with more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Army. She is currently pursuing a degree in culinary arts at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College and dreams of becoming a chef and opening her own business.

“It is an honor to be recognized for my hard work, and receiving this scholarship motivates me to continue to strive for excellence,” Stimpson said. “Your generosity has inspired me to help others and give back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as you have helped me.”

“The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is proud to support service members through continued education and training, especially as they transition back to civilian life,” said Rob Gifford, president of the NRAEF. “We are grateful to Hormel Foods for making these scholarships possible, and for helping our veterans pursue opportunities in the restaurant and foodservice industry.”