NWF partners with BASF for scholarship

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Wheat Foundation (NWF) has partnered with BASF to give away four scholarships for students with connections to the wheat industry. The scholarship is named in honor of Jerry Minore, who was a longtime friend of the wheat industry and advocate for wheat farmers. To honor his work and life, BASF and NWF will give scholarships to students who are planning careers in agriculture.

The Minore Memorial Scholarship will fund four college scholarships for the 2014-15 academic year: two $1,500 scholarships and two $1,000 scholarships. To be eligible, students must:

•Be freshmen, sophomores or juniors pursuing an agricultural-related degree

•Be enrolled in an accredited college, university, junior or community college

•Be a member of the National Assoc. of Wheat Growers; have a close relative (parent, grandparent) who is a member; OR be nominated by someone sitting on its board of directors or a state wheat association board

Applicants for the Minore Memorial Scholarship should submit: a completed application form; two letters of recommendation, from a professor, academic advisor or nominating sponsor; a current transcript (freshmen may submit a high school transcript); and an essay response. All applications must be postmarked on or before Dec. 19. More information about the scholarship and the application form are online at www.wheatfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Jerry-Minore-Memorial-Scholarship-Application-2014.pdf

$2,500 for Huntington’s new ag program

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Lake City Bank has given Huntington University a $2,500 donation to support the college’s new Institute for Agricultural Studies.

“Helping Huntington University launch an agriculture program is just one way Lake City Bank can support the ag industry in Indiana,” said Joe Kessie, the bank’s senior vice president. “Agriculture is very important to Lake City Bank and is one of the largest loan concentrations we have.”

Kessie serves on the university’s Agriculture Task Force, a group that began meeting in December 2013.

“We are blessed to have the ongoing support of partners like Lake City Bank,” said Dr. Sherilyn Emberton, president of Huntington University. “Joe Kessie has been an integral part of our agriculture task force and has worked tirelessly to help us launch the Institute for Agricultural Studies.” Kessie added that he has a personal stake in the success of the institute. 

The agribusiness program, which is under development, is intended to meet the growing need for agribusiness professionals and is anticipated to include concentrations in business innovation and entrepreneurship, communication and public policy, crop production, agricultural education, and ministry and missions. For more information about the program, visit www.huntington.edu/agriculture

Ag scholarship named for Samuelson

CHICAGO, Ill. — The first-ever recipient of the Orion Samuelson Scholarship for Agricultural Communication is Elizabeth (Liz) Koehler, a senior at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The $5,000 NAFB Foundation scholarship is named in honor of legendary farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson of WGN Radio and is sponsored by CME Group. The award of the Orion Samuelson Scholarship to Ms. Koehler represents the 100th scholarship presented to a college student seeking a career in agricultural communications since the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Foundation began awarding scholarships in 1977.