NATIONAL SUPERMARKET ASSOCIATION – Florida Chapter 2019 Scholarship Foundation recipients celebrate their award presentations, June 5, at Spring Hill Suites by Marriott in Miramar, FL. 
ALL SMILES – Pedro Penton, Tecnica Business Systems and Raifiz Vargas President of NSA-FL Chapter. 
NSA FLORIDA CHAPTER BOARD MEMBERS 
UNFI Chris Lavoy, NSA-FL Chapter President Raifiz Vargas, UNFI Gregg Young and NSA FL board member Carlos Hernandez. 
RAFFLE WINNER Yuliana Perez (center) receives a laptop courtesy of Tecnica Business Systems. 
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Kendryck Edwards 
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Jordon Perry 
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM the National Supermarket Association has been able to provide $420,000 in scholarships to its local neighborhood students with the aid of its sponsors and members.
A TODAY’S GROCER Exclusive Report.
National Supermarket Association (NSA), a trade association representing the interests of independent supermarket owners in New York, Florida and other states throughout the East Coast held its Ninth Annual Scholarship Ceremony in Florida, June 5, at the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott in Miramar, FL. NSA-Florida awarded $61,000 in total to 61 students living in communities surrounding member stores. The students each received $1,000.
“This ceremony gives us all great satisfaction for the hard work we do and today we see the wonderful result” Rafiz Vargas, NSA Florida Chapter President stated at the commencement of the ceremony.
Guest speaker Luke Louis, Vice President of Amerigas said “People think about what you say, what you do and who you are…do people know your personal brand?”
“I’m inspired every time I see young men and women with the desire to succeed.” Pedro Penton, Técnica Business Systems. “The common element in all successes is the aforementioned hard work, the diligence, the persistence and the acquisition of knowledge. These accomplishments as with your future endeavors will prove to be a journey and not necessarily a destination.”
Scholarship recipients include: Natalie Abod, Adrian Acuna, Alejandro Alvarez, Jasmine Arias, Oneyda Ayala, Niya Banks, Margaret Borrajero, Charlene Brown, Stephanie Byrd, Abdel Cabrera, Jessica Caesar, Tia Camblard, Giselle Chaviano, Rebecca Darote, Lorena De los Sanots, Kendryck Edwards, Santamaria Etienne, Caitlin Farno, Gaud Fortuna-Payano, Melissa Garcia, Alessandra Garcia, Stephanie Garcia, Kalida Gawon, Diana Gonzalez, Vakaria Hampton, Christelle Haygood, Gabriel Jimenez, Damanique Johnson, Crystal Jones, Ian Krupkin, Meagan Marie Ligorria, Marissa Manley, Allison Martinez, Alejandro Marquez, Manuel Menes, Wichederline Merancier, Melanie Millo, Frances Miranda, Gabriella Nunez, Chloe Patterson, Yessika Pena, Yuliana Perez, Jordon Perry, Devin Phillips, Michelle Pina, Beatriz Pinho, Elioenai Porto, Melany Quintero, Kennedi Robinson, Ines Gabriela Rodriguez, Raquel Rossman, Krystynah Sanders, Anjali Seupaul, Niola Tabares, Monica Tabares, Ryanne Thelwell, Olivia Tonini, Mariana Ubeda, Jonathan D. Van Arsdale, Eylen Vidal and Damaris Welsh-Harrisingh.
This event would have not been possible without the exceptional support of participating sponsors. Scholarship Awards Ceremony Main Sponsor was UNFI. Other Main Sponsors, included: Amerigas, All Florida Paper, Técnica Business Systems, Quirch Foods, Sun City Produce Co. and Key Food.
As part of the scholarship ceremony, four laptops were raffled. Two winners were Yuliana Perez and Jonathan Van Arsdale laptops were donated by Técnica Business Systems, Niola Tabares was the recipient of the Acer Laptop donated by Propane Cowboys and Margaret Borrajero was the recipient of the Surface Pro donated by Gibson Foods.
“I would like to thank Mr. Pedro Penton of Técnica Systems for donating the lap top for the raffle. Though this lap top will go a long way in helping me with school, his words of wisdom will probably do the most good. His message of staying focused really inspired me to keep working towards my goals with everything I’ve got. Thank you,” said raffle winner and scholarship recipient Jonathan Van Arsdale.
NSA Florida Chapter President Rafiz Vargas concluded the ceremony by saying, “Go out there and make a difference!”
Since the scholarship foundation has been established, the National Supermarket Association has been able to provide $420,000 in scholarships to its local neighborhood students with the aid of its sponsors and members.
