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Scholarships
Two scholarships to juniors or seniors who are enrolled in the Departments of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Agricultural and Consumer Economics, Crops Sciences, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, or Technical Systems Management in the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The recipients shall have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Preference shall be given to students from an agricultural background with a strong interest in a farm related career. Applicants will be required to submit an essay describing their background in agriculture and their future plans for a farm related career and to provide at least one (1) farmer reference.
When she first visited the University of Illinois, Molly Messner, now a student in agricultural and consumer economics (ACE), was impressed by all the options the ACE major offers. Although Molly does not come from an agricultural background, she was immediately interested in the public policy and law concentration and learning more about trade and development and rural economics.
David Gutierrez, a student in agricultural and consumer economics (ACE), chose to pursue a concentration in public policy and law because it provides him with the perfect combination of his interests.
“I hope to one day work in the public policy and legal sector, and my ACE major allows me to apply my interests in agriculture and economics to this legal field,” David says. “Also, my major and my concentration are a unique way to differentiate myself from other students applying to law school who have the more typical political science major.”
Heather Brooks chose her major in natural resources and environmental sciences (NRES) because of her strong interest in the well-being of the environment and, more specifically, wildlife. As a child, she was always interested in working with animals, and her interest in conservation grew during high school.
A love of chemistry and cooking sparked Janique Tyler’s interest in food, but her yearning to understand why foods work together the way they do is what solidified her decision to attend the University of Illinois for a degree in food science and human nutrition (FSHN).
Jack Rich is no stranger to the farm. He has always been involved in agriculture and grew up with parents and grandparents farming. When he decided he wanted to bring the business side of agriculture to applications on the farm, a degree in agricultural and consumer economics (ACE) seemed to be the perfect fit.
As a freshman in high school, Nicole Lopez found her passion: caring for animals. She learned about the RAP I internship program and came to the University of Illinois, where she fell in love with animal sciences. After two more RAP internships, Nicole chose animal sciences as her major and decided to attend the U of I.
Growing up on a farm and being involved in high school with the national FFA organization, Trisha Ferguson learned the importance of agriculture to all of society.
“I chose to pursue a career in animal sciences because I believe animals can teach humans about compassion and loyalty,” say freshman Iris Grossman. “Animals play a very important role in our society as companion animals, livestock, working animals, and much more. Our dependency on them means there must be people who understand how to take care of them.”
In addition to choosing animal sciences, Iris chose the University of Illinois for her college career, convinced of the noteworthy benefits it offers to students.
The University of Illinois experience has just begun for freshmen Betsy Kueker, but she has already found a multitude of benefits in her choice for a college education.
“I know exactly what to expect in my career thanks to my advisor and my Ag Ed 100 class, which is comforting,” Betsy says. “Being only a freshman and already knowing what to expect is the top U of I benefit for me so far.”
Betsy, who is studying agricultural education, aspires to be an ag teacher after college.