2024 Fellowship

Ashley Gruman
Ashley GrumanThe Pennsylvania State University

The Penn State Food Science Cocoa, Chocolate and Confectionery Group has named Ashley Gruman as the recipient of the 14th PMCA/PSU Fellowship award.

Ashley is a first-year M.S. student in Food Science at The Pennsylvania State University, supervised by Drs. Helene Hopfer and John Hayes. She graduated with a B.S. in Food Science and Technology from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in the Spring of 2024. While there, she researched Processing-induced taurine encapsulation for energy drink and nutraceutical applications under the instruction of Dr. Grace Lewis. Her desire to build upon the foundation of the field of food science, specifically sensory and consumer science, is what inspires her to continue her education in this field. Ashley’s current research focuses on the effects of citrus and organic acid flavor mixtures on temporal sensory properties of confectionary gummies.

Call for Candidates

PMCA and the Pennsylvania State University seek students interested in conducting confectionery research while earning a graduate degree in food science at the Pennsylvania State University. Preferably the candidates will have some experience in confectionery manufacture. Individuals that have earned an undergraduate degree, have some confectionery experience and are interested in furthering their education should complete the formal application for admission process per the instructions provided.

In addition, a letter of intent should be sent to:

Helene Hopfer, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Food Science
The Pennsylvania State University
221 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building
University Park, PA 16802
Tel: 814-863-5572
Fax: 814-863-6132
Email: hxh83@psu.edu

Past Fellowships

The thirteenth fellowship honors the memory of Dennis L. Zak. Cynthia Loi completed her research on Sensory Guided Investigation of Cocoa Polyphenol Induced Astringency. Cynthia presented her research during the recent PMCA Production Conference through a breakout session entitled: The Symphony of Chocolate: Instruments of Taste & Smell.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com. Members can access this research by visiting the PMCA Member Portal’s Learn Candy online database.

The twelfth fellowship honors the memory of Peter van B. Heide. Terianne Hamada, a Department of Food Science graduate from the Pennsylvania State University, was awarded this memorial fellowship. In the fall of 2021 Terianne completed her research on the topic Effects of Alkalization on the Chemistry of Cocoa. The overall objective of this study was to examine the effects of alkalization on various chemical components of cocoa that may relate to changes in the sensory properties. This study was novel in that it examined two different types of alkali (K2CO3 and NaOH) at four different levels (0, 1, 3 and 6% w/w). Properties of the cocoa analyzed included previously studied attributes such as pH and color as well as lesser studied attributes like volatile aroma compounds, polyphenols, cell wall polysaccharides, dietary fiber, and cocoa starch.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com. You can also learn more about the research by visiting our podcast channel.

The eleventh fellowship honors the memory of Allen Allured. Qiaoqiao Dai, a Department of Food Science graduate from the Pennsylvania State University, was awarded this memorial fellowship. Ms. Dai’s primary area of interest is food chemistry and processing, with her research topic relating to polyphenols in confectionery. She has completed 3 internships with human resources, food inspection and sales in Shenzhen, China. In addition to the confectionery research project component of the scholarship, Qiaoqiao spent time at several PMCA member companies in the summer of 2016. This excellent learning opportunity provided her with an appreciation of the technical challenges common to many confectionery companies. The experience has given Qiaoqiao the opportunity to build industry contacts that will be helpful throughout her graduate research work.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The tenth fellowship honors the memory of Ralph Lee. Erin Fleming, Department of Food Science graduate from the Pennsylvania State University, was awarded this memorial fellowship. Ms. Fleming’s primary area of interest is sensory evaluation, with her research topic relating to mechanisms for oral astringency using chocolate as a model system. She has completed internships with Kraft Foods and Cargill, Inc. In addition to the confectionery research project component of the scholarship, Erin spent time at several PMCA member companies in the summer of 2013. This excellent learning opportunity provided her with an appreciation of the technical challenges common to many confectionery companies. The experience has given Erin the opportunity to build industry contacts that will be helpful throughout her graduate research work.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The ninth fellowship honors the memory of Tresper Clark. Meriel Harwood, Department of Food Science student at the Pennsylvania State University was awarded this memorial fellowship. Ms. Harwood presented a summary of her work during PMCA’s 67th Annual Production Conference. Meriel also participated in PMCA’s Student Outreach Program for two years and through these experiences gained employment at Mars North America as a sensory and consumer insights scientist. Ms. Harwood’s research was focused on the topic of Rejection Thresholds – A Novel Sensory Method of Application in Confectionery Product and was conducted under the guidance of Dr. Gregory Zeigler and Dr. John Hayes.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The eighth fellowship honors the memory of Alfred Miklos. Mr. Miklos was the director of research and development for M&M Mars Inc. (now Masterfoods), for 33 years, retiring in 1992. He was a board member of PMCA. Lauren Ashworth, Department of Food Science student at the Pennsylvania State University was awarded this memorial fellowship. Ms. Ashworth is focusing on food chemistry and has an interest in the field of research and development as well as sensory, especially as related to chocolate products. Ms. Ashworth’s research is focused on the topic of Water in Oil Emulsions and will be overseen by Dr. John Coupland.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The seventh fellowship honors the memory of John W. Hess. Lihe Yeo, Department of Food Science student at thePennsylvania State University, was awarded this memorial fellowship. John W. Hess initially appeared to be a newcomer to the confectionery industry, purchasing the Simon Candy Company in May of 1974. As a packaging salesman for the 25 years prior, most of his clients were in the confectionery business, and he grew to love the trade so much that he sought to purchase a candy company. John became an ambassador for the industry, never missing an opportunity to praise its products, and became president of the PMCA in 1983. He was one of the proponents in moving the Production Conference to a larger locale to attract a broader audience among the candy trade. His life was cut short due to cancer and an eventual stroke, passing away in 1989. Ms. Yeo’s research on the topic of Starch-Flavor Interaction will be overseen by Dr. Don Thompson and Dr. Devin Peterson.
To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The sixth fellowship honors the memory of Achilles (Herk) C. Pulakos. “Herk,” as he was known in the industry, was part of the Pulakos family of Erie, Pennsylvania who have been making fine chocolates for more than 100 years. Herk was a valuable industry contributor who served as PMCA president in 1982, chairman and then as an honorary director. Kristin Szlachetka, Agricultural Biological Engineering (Food Option) student at the Pennsylvania State University, was awarded the Fellowship. Kristin’s research on the topic of Understanding the Mechanism of Oil Migration in Chocolate was overseen by Dr. Gregory Ziegler, professor of food science.
To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The fifth fellowship honors the memory of Walter L. Kalbach, Jr. who passed away in September 1997 at age 81. During his long career with Luden’s in Reading, PA, Kalbach served as president of PMCA in 1975, as chairman and as a director for many years. Walter Kalbach remained very active in PMCA throughout his retirement as an honorary director, rarely missing a meeting, until his unexpected death. He was one of six recipients of a Service Award for life-long service to PMCA presented at the Golden Anniversary Production Conference in 1996. The Walter L. Kalbach Memorial Fellowship was awarded to April D. Bowser, graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, from August 2002 through June 2003. She completed her work on The Influence of Surfaces and Surfactants on the Crystallization and Morphology of Cocoa Buttery. April is currently employed by Bestco in Mooresville, NC.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The fourth fellowship, the John W. Vassos Memorial Fellowship, was awarded in 1999 to Nicole Decker of Ames, Iowa, a graduate of the Iowa State University. During his life, Vassos’ name was synonymous with PMCA and AACT. His entire career was devoted to the confectionery industry, having worked at Whitman’s Chocolates for many years and then later as a consultant, while serving in virtually every capacity of PMCA and AACT. He worked closely with the late Hans Dresel on the Production Conference Committee, and after Mr. Dresel’s death in 1962, worked tirelessly with AACT and PMCA colleagues to establish the Hans Dresel Memorial Scholarship for undergraduates at Drexel University. In 1965 he received AACT’s prestigious Stroud Jordan Award for outstanding contributions to the field of confectionery technology. He died in January 1996.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The third fellow honors Jay C. Musser. Michelle Troutman of Richland, PA, a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, was named the recipient in early 1996. A chemical engineer by training, Musser had a long and distinguished career at Klein Chocolate (now M&M/Mars) in Elizabethtown, PA, where he became executive vice president. In 1967 he received AACT’s prestigious Stroud Jordan Award for outstanding contributions to the field of confectionery technology. Musser served PMCA as president and board chairman, but he is best remembered for his dedicated work on the Research Committee that he chaired for many years. His home housed the PMCA Research Library and his wife, Ruth, served as research secretary for many years as well. He died in 1982.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The second fellowship honoring Elwood W. Meyers was awarded in 1993 to Laura DeMars of Lynchburg, VA, a 1993 honors graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in chemical engineering. Elwood W. Meyers, El to his many friends and colleagues, was formerly chief chemist and director of research of The Hershey Company Corporation, PMCA president, board chairman, long-time chairman of the PMCA Production Conference Program as well as long-time member of the Research Committee. In 1971 he received AACT’s prestigious Stroud Jordan Award for outstanding contributions to the field of confectionery technology. He died in January 1989 at the age of 80.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.

The first fellowship, the Dr. Rodney C. Welch, Sr. Memorial Fellowship, was awarded in 1990 to Joseph Ferrone of Rockaway, New Jersey, and a Bucknell University graduate in Biology. Dr. Welch retired as vice president of Wilbur Chocolate and was PMCA president, board chairman, treasurer, chairman of the Production Conference Program Committee and long-time Research Committee member. In 1966 he received AACT’s prestigious Stroud Jordan Award for outstanding contributions to the field of confectionery technology. He died in March 1988 at age 83.

To obtain a copy of this research please email info@pmca.com.