Hello Fellow Foodies!

Let’s hope that everyone is off to a great start for the fall semester! Some of you may be starting to form teams and concepts for the IFTSA competitions. Make sure to look at the updated competition rules posted on the IFTSA website as some of the competition themes, requirements, and formats may have changed. In addition, you will realize that IFTSA will not be continuing with the Heart Healthy competition due to the sun setting of the IFT Wellness Conference. However, IFTSA is pleased to introduce the IFT Global Student Innovation Challenge sponsored by Tate & Lyle, a competition in which individual graduate students are tasked with developing a new food ingredient innovation!

The IFTSA Board and Competitions Task Force are excited to present these changes to you.  Competition modification highlights are listed below. Please contact the respective competition chair for additional information (Email addresses below) or the VP of Competitions, Diane Schmitt (iftsacompetitions@gmail.com).

IFT Global Student Innovation Challenge (NEW for IFT15!)
Competition Chair: Katie Lanfranki (iftsa.sic@gmail.com)

• This competition, sponsored by Tate & Lyle in conjunction with Feeding Tomorrow, provides individual graduate students (MS, Ph. D. or global equivalent) the opportunity to propose an ingredient innovation specific to the chosen theme for that given year. The ingredient innovation must be based on the combination of one or more raw materials to improve texture, mouthfeel, sweetness, stability, sensory process, etc. related to the chosen them. Strong proposals must be scientifically justified through literature.
• Visit the competition page for more information about this exciting new competition!

IFTSA & Mars Product Development Competition
Competition Chair: Maddy Levin (iftsa.pdc@gmail.com)

• Preliminary and final proposal submissions must be submitted through IFT.org as instructed in the competition rules.

Developing Solutions for Developing Countries Competition
Competition Chair: Jamie Savitz (iftsa.dsdc@gmail.com)

• New theme for 2014-2015
• Three (3) page preliminary proposal maximum, not including a title page, a picture page, an appendix page, and reference pages
• Oral presentations at IFT15 will be 15 minutes in duration and there will not be a Q&A session during the oral presentation.
• Finalists will now participate in a judged roundtable discussion/Q&A session with the competition judges, other finalists, and the general public.
• Preliminary and final proposal submissions must be submitted through IFT.org as instructed in the competition rules.

IFTSA & Disney Nutritious Foods for Kids Product Development Competition
Competition Chair: Yiwen Thor (iftsa.disney@gmail.com)

• Preliminary and final proposal submissions must be submitted through IFT.org as instructed in the competition rules.
• Revised rules are posted on the competition website.

Undergraduate Research Competition
Competition Chair: Shintaro Pang (iftsa.urc@gmail.com)

• Preliminary and final proposal submissions must be submitted through IFT.org as instructed in the competition rules.
• The oral portion is limited to eight (8) minutes per speaker with two (2) minutes Q&A, PowerPoint optional
• The poster portion will be two (2) hours and run in conjunction with the Graduate Research Poster Sessions.

Chapter of the Year Competition
Competition Chair: John Frelka (iftsa.coy@gmail.com)

• Chapters are required to submit a self-evaluation form and four essays
• Chapters can win the following awards presented annually:
  • Chapter of the Year – 1 Award $1,000 with trophy
  • Outstanding Chapter for Public Outreach – 1 Award $250 with trophy
  • Outstanding Chapter for Membership Experience- 1 Award $250 with trophy
  • Outstanding Chapter for Organizational Growth – 1 Award $250 with trophy
  • Outstanding Chapter for National Engagement – 1 Award $250 with trophy
• Any Chapter attaining the minimum levels of participation will be recognized with either Gold, Silver, Bronze, or a Certificate of Merit

College Bowl Competition
Competition Chair: Chelsey Hinnekamp (iftsa.cbc@gmail.com)

• Each team may consist of an unlimited number of team members. However, any team members that actively participate on the IFT15 winning team may not compete in college bowl again.
• The winning national team will win $1,000 for their Area and the 2^nd place national team will win $500 for their Area to be used at their IFTSA Area Meeting and College Bowl Competition the year immediately following the winnings.

Diane Schmitt
Vice President of Competitions
iftsacompetitions@gmail.com