Awards and Scholarships
The American Spice Trade Association honors extraordinary individuals for their contributions to the association through dedication to leadership, technical expertise support, volunteerism, and mentorship. This is recognized by an outstanding service award. Additionally, ASTA offers educational scholarships to student relatives of ASTA members. Both are awarded annually.
Marty Mitchell Outstanding Service Award
Marty Mitchell was an influential industry veteran who served as the Associate representative on ASTA's Board of Directors, several committees, including the Technical Committee, Analytical Methods Subcommittee, and other science and regulatory committees. Now passed, this award in his honor celebrates those who go above and beyond in their commitment to advancing the spice trade.
Susan L. Abbott Memorial Scholarship
Susan L. Abbott was an active member of the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA) and served as ASTA president from 1998 to 2000. She also served on several committees, including the Government Relations Committee, where she served as chair. She helped create the International Organization of Spice Associations (IOSTA) and worked with Codex Alimentarius on the establishment of pesticide MRLs on spices using monitoring data. To commemorate Susan’s life and work, ASTA and Roy Langhans, her husband, created a scholarship in her memory.
Marty Mitchell Outstanding Service Award
Recipients are nominated by the ASTA staff and confirmed by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
Award Criteria:
Recipients of the Marty Mitchell Outstanding Service Award must be a representative from an Active or Associate member in good standing. Individuals who retire from member companies within the 12 months preceding when an award is given are also eligible recipients.
To be selected for this award, the recipient must also demonstrate outstanding service to the American Spice Trade Association through engagement in one or more of the following areas to support and further ASTA’s mission and goals:
- Presenting at meetings and events
- Leading and participating in committees and task forces
- Serving as an outstanding member resource by providing industry expertise
- Executing special projects
- Promoting ASTA and the spice industry
- Fostering collaboration and positive relationships within the spice industry
Honored Past Recipients
2025 Recipient
Lynda Lathrop (Retired), Griffith Foods
2024 Recipient
Roger Clarke, formerly with Cannamela Divisione Di Bonomelli S.R.I.
2023 Recipient
Timothy Sonntag, Wixon
2022 Recipient
Greg Sommerville, Frontier Co-op
Susan L. Abbott Memorial Scholarship
The Susan L. Abbott Memorial Scholarship is a $3000 scholarship that is awarded to deserving applicants each year. The 2025 Susan L. Memorial Scholarships were awarded to four deserving students:
Pardis Abd, daughter of Shirin Abd of Eurofins
Brody Markle, son of Lori Markle of McCormick & Company, Inc.
Aviva Herszage, daughter of Bruno Herszage of Newly Weds Foods
Colin Hill, son of Blaine Hill of Deep Souths Blenders, Inc.
ASTA is now collecting donations for the 2026 scholarship fund! Please email [email protected] with any questions or inquiries about making a contribution.
New applications for scholarships will be accepted beginning in November 2025 for 2026 scholarships. Children of all employees at ASTA member companies are invited to apply.
Applicant Requirements:
- Must be related to an employee at an ASTA member company
- Must currently have a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Must currently be a high school senior or a full-time college or university student
- Must use the scholarship to attend a four-year college or university
- Must be a full-time student at the time they will receive the scholarship.
