College and trade school students interested in the baking industry have until April 30 to apply for the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) Student Immersion Program, which pays for the costs of attending the show. Students from all areas of the baking industry are encouraged to apply.

Those chosen for this scholarship will be hosted as special guests, meeting leaders, networking with exhibitors, touring a bakery and exploring the show floor. The program covers travel, hotel, IBIE registration and provides students with a mentor at the show, which will be Sept. 13-17 in Las Vegas. 

Students interested can apply at bakingexpo.com/students. They must be accompanied by a faculty adviser, whose travel and stay at IBIE will also be covered. Students are required to volunteer at the show and write a paper after the event. 

Emily Klein, who attended Kansas State University studying Bakery Science and Management and is now working as a food technologist, was part of the Immersion Program at the 2022 IBIE and called her experience one-of-a-kind.

“I learned new and vital information about the industry …, network with industry professionals, and overall just be a part of what makes the baking world so special,” she said.

She also said she felt appreciated and respected by everyone she met and was impressed by the networking opportunities she had.

“I got to know people who worked for companies I have always dreamed of working for, as well as new companies I had previously never heard of,” she explained.

Erica Beirman, a teaching professor and culinary science coordinator for Iowa State University, attended IBIE with students through the program.

“Our students and I were so grateful for the opportunity to network with baking industry leaders, and the students could not say enough kind words about the mentors they were paired with for the conference,” she said. “The students loved everything; volunteering, the opportunity to walk the show floor and interact with leading industry professionals, the educational sessions, and having a mentor to connect with during the show.”

IBIE also has a student volunteer program that provides free registration to students in exchange for five volunteer hours assisting with IBIEducate sessions and demos. This includes access to the expo hall and all educational sessions. 

Volunteers will perform a variety of tasks including helping with the show-floor competitions, celebrity-led demonstrations and educational seminars. Applications for the student volunteer program are due by Sept. 1. Those interested can apply at bakingexpo.com/students/.