AACT names Saldivar recipient of John Kitt Memorial Scholarship

The American Association of Candy Technologists (AACT) has announced that the recipient of the 2017–2018 John Kitt Memorial Scholarship is Alejandro Saldivar—a senior at the University of California, Davis. Saldivar was drawn to the confectionery industry when he happened upon a craft chocolate factory by the name of Dick-Taylor. Soon after, he took a break from his studies in environmental engineering and went to work for Dick-Taylor. He decided to further his education in this area of study so he enrolled at the University of California, Davis. There, Saldivar maintains academic excellence while participating in the Food Science Brewing Club, as a committee member of the Davis Chocolate Festival, and a team leader of the Ocean Spray Product Development Competition. Saldivar is a member of the Institute of Food Technologists.

“My aspirations are to study, work with, and build up companies that work with chocolate and confectionery,” said Saldivar. “I love what I’ve done and what I study, and I can’t wait to do more.”

AACT has awarded a scholarship for the past 17 years. In 2010, it was named in honor of John Kitt, who during his 46-year career in the confectionery and snack industry was a frequent instructor at confectionery training courses, 1998 recipient of the AACT Stroud Jordan Award, and inductee into the Candy Hall of Fame in 2008. He passed away in 2009.

Press release (pdf)