On May 11, 2023, the leadership team of AlaTrade recognized Stephanie Cortes Garcia, daughter of employee-owner Jennifer Montano of the Boaz plant, as one of the two initial AlaTrade college scholarship recipients. Immediately following this presentation, the leadership team recognized Alejandra Perez, daughter of employee-owner Erica Muela of the Albertville plant, as the second AlaTrade college scholarship recipient.
AlaTrade college scholarship recipient
AlaTrade college scholarship recipient
To further support our employee-owners and to exemplify the company value of growth where we are continuous learners who are always working to be the best, AlaTrade launched an annual college scholarship program this year, giving $2,000 scholarships to a qualifying child of one employee at each plant. The scholarships are available to the children of AlaTrade supervisors and hourly employees. To qualify, the student must be graduating the year of the scholarship award, must be enrolled in classes starting no later than the fall of the same year, and must be attending an accredited college or university. The scholarship plan allows for award of one scholarship per plant from qualifying applicants of each plant.
“No importa de dónde vienes tú eliges en quién convertirte, says my father, Eduardo, which translates as no matter where you come from, you choose who to become,” said Stephanie Cortes Garcia. “As a proud descendant of humble Mexican roots, I want to be a dream from Mexico for my family. As a first-generation college student, I carry the dreams on my shoulders from my family to the United States.”
As a member and leader of several clubs and organizations, Cortes Garcia graduated from Boaz High School as a distinguished scholar. She plans to further her education at either Snead State Community College or Wallace State Community College to pursue a degree in nursing. “I just want to say thank you to my parents because they’ve always supported me all my life,” says Cortes Garcia.
Jennifer Montano, employee-owner of AlaTrade and mom of Cortes Garcia says, “I’m grateful to AlaTrade that they gave my daughter a step to further her education.”
AlaTrade’s Albertville plant recipient, Alejandra Perez graduated as an honors student from Albertville High School where she was a member and leader of several clubs and organizations. She plans to attend Wallace State Community College to further her education towards becoming a dental hygienist.
“I’m blessed and thankful for this scholarship, and I’m really excited to continue my education,” says Perez. “As a first-generation college student in my family from Guatemala, being selected for this scholarship helps show that even coming from a poor country, with dedication, it’s possible for me to get a profession.”
Employee-owner Erica Muela, Perez’s mom, is so grateful for the opportunity AlaTrade has given her. “I’m blessed and so thankful for everyone at AlaTrade and the opportunity this has given my daughter,” shared Muela.
The foundation of the AlaTrade company culture is one of putting its people and its customers as the primary focus. Adding the annual scholarship program to help improve the lives of the employee-owners and their families represents yet again how the company focuses on people first. As its core values state, AlaTrade shares in integrity, in dependability on each other, in respect for one another, in the results of the company, and in the growth of the company and its employee-owners. Helping provide a means for furthering the education of employee-owner children builds on this emphasis of growth.
Poultry processing is what AlaTrade does. Promoting people and pursuing profitability for their employee-owners and their customers is who they are.
Not only did committed employees and their qualified children have a chance to win one of the newly launched AlaTrade scholarships, but they are winning everyday as employee-owners! For your opportunity to become part of this winning team, visit https://www.alatrade.com/opportunities/