Three Students Win $12.5K in Produce Industry Scholarships

Carter Schwalls, Johnathon Rocendo, and Maxwell Masser just proved that thinking deeply about farming's future pays off in a big way.

The three students won the 2026 Vorhees Vision Scholarship, splitting $12,500 in awards from the Southeast Produce Council. The competition asked applicants to tackle a pressing question: how can farmers keep feeding families while facing climate change, labor shortages, and unpredictable markets?

Carter Schwalls took home the top prize of $10,000. Her father Jon works at Southern Valley Fruit & Vegetable, giving her a front-row seat to the challenges facing food producers.

Johnathon Rocendo earned second place and a $1,500 scholarship. His mother Mayra Arvizu works for Mack Farms, connecting him to the industry's daily realities.

Maxwell Masser rounded out the winners with a $1,000 third-place scholarship. Both his parents, David and Jamie, work at Sterman Masser, Inc.

The scholarship honors Terry L. Vorhees, who founded and led the Southeast Produce Council. His vision transformed SEPC into a major resource for education and professional growth in the produce industry.

Winning required more than just strong writing. Applicants needed a minimum 3.0 GPA, solid SAT or ACT scores, recommendation letters, and proven leadership through community service.

Why This Inspires

These young people could have written about any topic, but they chose to grapple with one of humanity's most fundamental challenges: keeping food on our tables. Their essays explored innovation, sustainability, and community support as keys to resilient food systems.

Even better, they're not just thinking about these problems abstractly. Growing up in produce industry families means they've witnessed the hard work, creativity, and dedication it takes to feed communities.

The next generation is already rolling up their sleeves to solve tomorrow's agricultural challenges.