What: US grocer Wegman’s is celebrating the 40th promotion of its scholarship program, which supported46,000 associates since its inception.

Why it is important: This is the kind of support that many employees expect nowadays in order to be able to grow with the support of their employer. A great way to make retail an interesting career too.

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Employee Scholarship Program, which has provided $145 million in educational assistance to over 46,500 associates since its inception. This year, the program awarded more than $6.5 million to 1,500 employees, with celebrations planned at all store locations. The scholarships offer up to $8,000 for part-time and up to $16,000 for full-time employees, with no annual limit on the number of recipients or restrictions on fields of study.

Highlighting the program's impact, Wegmans revisited two of its first recipients from 1984. Mary Beth Stalter, a beneficiary of the inaugural year, now oversees the scholarship program as Wegmans' director of benefits and programs. Her career progression within Wegmans illustrates the program’s role in supporting long-term employee development. Bill Schmitt, another early recipient, parlayed his scholarship into a lasting career within Wegmans' finance department, emphasizing the diverse career paths available at the company.

Wegman’s celebrates 40 years of employee scholarships