Awards and Scholarships

About ASTA

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

2026 Recipient

David Howe, Vapos, LLC

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.

2026 Susan L. Memorial Scholarships were awarded to six deserving students:
•    Jessica Bober, Daughter of Tomasz Bober with Vapos LLC
•    Ethan Cull, Son of John Cull with Frontier Co-op
•    Pham Tuan Minh, Son Pham Ngoc Duong with Olam Vietnam (ofi)
•    Zienab Mohieldin, Daughter of Sofia Babiker with Advanced Spice and Trading
•    Brighton Snodgrass, Daughter of Michael Snodgrass with Griffith Foods
•    Madalynn (Maddy) Weber, Daughter of Christina Weber with Starwest Botanicals

Thank you to those who contributed to the 2026 scholarship fund, including: Melanie Langhans, 2025 Golf Tournament, BCFoods, Art Curran, Chesapeake Spice, USA, Frontier Co-op, Kerri Goad-Berrios, Glendale Warehouse Corporation, Olam Food Ingredients (ofi), Vapos, Inc., and Wixon Inc.

ASTA is now collecting donations for the 2027 scholarship fund!
Please email [email protected] with any questions or inquiries about making a contribution.

The deadline for submitting applications for 2027 will be announced this summer.

Children of all employees at ASTA member companies globally 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 two or four-year college, university, or trade school
Must be a full-time student at the time they receive the scholarship.

ASTA member companies are encouraged to post this flyer in public spaces at their offices or distribute to employees.

Student Application Packet

The 2027 Susan L. Abbott Scholarship application packet will be available later this summer.

Support the Susan L. Abbott Memorial Scholarship

Donations from our member companies power the scholarship program and give ASTA the opportunity to award multiple scholarships each year. If you are interested in supporting the scholarship fund, please contact ASTA or email [email protected].

Spread the News

Promote the Susan L. Abbott Memorial Scholarship to employees at your company

All immediate family member students of employees at any ASTA member company globally are eligible to apply for the Susan L. Abbott Scholarship. ASTA will have a flyer ready to circulate this summer. ASTA member companies are encouraged to circulate a flyer with their employees to boost the program's visibility and help students find this opportunity.