Top College Bowl Teams to Test Food Knowledge in Exciting Trivia-Based Competition at IFT FIRST

CHICAGO – May 22, 2024 – The Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA), a student-governed community of members of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), is proud to announce the College Bowl team trivia regional champions who will compete to be champion at IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo. Since 1985, the IFTSA College Bowl Competition, which features teams of four competing in an intense but fun trivia-based environment, has tested the knowledge of students in the following areas:

• Foods analysis and quality assurance
• Food chemistry
• Food laws and regulations
• Food safety, toxicology, and microbiology
• Nutrition food packaging
• Food processing and engineering
• IFT knowledge
• Food history and trivia biotechnology
• Carbohydrates, cereal, and grain products
• Culinology and baking
• Sensory and consumer science
• Dairy products
• Fruit and vegetable products
• Meat, fish, poultry, and egg products
• Alcoholic and nonalcoholic products
• History of foods and food processing

“For nearly 40 years, one of the highlights of IFT FIRST has been the College Bowl competition where some of our top food science students test their knowledge against their IFTSA peers and potential future colleagues. Each finalist has a rich history in the food and beverage space, producing some of our top food leaders across academia, government, and industry, and I am excited to see which team ends up on top this year,” said Christina Ginardi, Director of Academic Engagement at IFT.

Each finalist team receives partial reimbursement for team travel and registration to IFT FIRST, the popular food science, technology and innovation event that attracts students from around the world every year. This year, IFT FIRST is being held July 14-17, 2024, at McCormick Place in Chicago.

First place receives $1,000 and second place receives $750. The finals are held live during the IFTSA Closing Ceremony on Tuesday, July 16. Last year, Clemson University defeated the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the finals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison, the 2019 College Bowl champion, returns to the College Bowl finals after winning the North Central region where they’ll be joined by a group of former College Bowl champions including The Ohio State University (2022), Cornell University (2021), University of Georgia (2018), and The Pennsylvania State University (2017).

Here is the list of regional winners who will compete at IFT FIRST:

• Pacific Southwest Champion: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Pacific Northwest Champion: Brigham Young University
• North Central Champion: University of Wisconsin–Madison
• Southeast Champion: University of Georgia
• South Central Champion: University of Arkansas
• Central Atlantic Champion: The Pennsylvania State University
• Midwest Champion: The Ohio State University
• North Atlantic Champion: Cornell University

To register for IFT FIRST, go to IFT FIRST Registration. Student members receive a discount to IFT FIRST. To learn more about becoming a student member and taking advantage of networking, education, and advocacy opportunities year-round, email [email protected].

About Institute of Food Technologists Student Association

The Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) is a student-governed community of more than 2,000 IFT members spanning 62 Chapters in 60 countries. IFTSA’s vision of a global community of inspired and informed students who are prepared for a future in food drives its mission to enrich the academic experience and empower students to thrive individually and together. To prepare the future and celebrate the community, IFTSA provides opportunities beyond the classroom and lab, grows student networks to facilitate meaningful and lasting connections, as well as includes and promotes diverse perspectives and backgrounds to foster a culture of belonging. For more information, visit ift.org/community/students.

About Institute of Food Technologists

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of over 11,000 individual members from more than 100 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. IFT works to ensure that its members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and innovate to advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. IFT believes that science and innovation is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.

Media Contact

Dennis Van Milligen
Director, Public and Media Relations
Institute of Food Technologists
630-853-3022
[email protected]