NERSA scholarship fund grants more than $100K to students with convenience services ties

A record $104,400 in scholarships was awarded to 21 students with ties to the convenience services industry as a part of the 2025 Allan Z. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship Fund endowment.

The Allan Z. Gilbert Memorial Scholarship Fund, a tax-exempt, public charity, offers scholarships for undergraduate study to the families of employees of New England Refreshment Services Association operator and supplier member companies. The scholarships are awarded annually based on both academic merit and financial need.

An independent evaluation committee of professional educators selected the scholarship recipients. This year’s top scholarship recipients are:

• Victoria Rak, sponsored by Canteen Norwood, earned the Allan Z. Gilbert Award. This award is granted in honor of Allan Z. Gilbert, a founder of the scholarship fund, its first chairman, a former trustee and its foremost benefactor.
• Kasey Lathrop, sponsored by Lathrop Vending, earned the Stephen Foley Jr. Memorial Award. This award is named in honor of Stephen Foley Jr., who passed away unexpectedly as a young adult. The son of current fund chairman Stephen Foley, Stephen Foley Jr. graduated from Boston College and was a four-year recipient of the fund.

Since its inception in 1988, the fund has granted $1,118,850 in scholarship aid. It is supported by voluntary contributions from NERSA member companies and the investment income from its funded endowment.