Amanda Smee of Conroe, Texas, is the recipient of the 2020 Left Turns for Learning Scholarship, given to her, in part, because of her active roles in FFA leadership and career development events, as well as livestock showing. The $10,138 FFA scholarship is sponsored by the DEKALB brand and done in partnership with NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer.
Smee is exceptional in both academics and leadership and has plans to pursue degrees in agricultural economics and accounting at Tarleton State University this fall. Since Smee was young, she participated in the family cattle operation, 4-H, and FFA, and she dedicates her time as senior class officer, and is a member of National Honor Society and Texas Farm Bureau.
Klein Collins FFA advisor, Heather Davis, was integral in the scholarship application process and describes Amanda as a “one-of-a-kind student who is hard working and driven.” Davis added, “Any time she is given a challenge or task, Amanda will do anything it takes to get it done. She takes things into her own hands and makes the most of any situation, always putting her best effort into everything — whether it’s outstanding grades in school, tending to her FFA projects or raising cattle with her family. It’s evident it’s not a job for her — it’s a passion, and the Left Turns for Learning scholarship is a wonderful opportunity helping students exercise that passion by furthering their education. There’s nothing better than giving back by making an investment into the future of agriculture.”
The Left Turns for Learning Scholarship was created by DEKALB and Asgrow to help students achieve their goals and advance the agriculture industry by focusing on performance. The scholarship amount was determined by the number of laps Bowyer completed with the
No. 14 DEKALB Ford Mustang. Bowyer completed 267 laps during the Kansas Speedway NASCAR race on October 20, 2019.
Through the National FFA Organization, more than 6,800 students applied to scholarships online, with applicants considered for multiple awards. Approximately one in every four students who applied was awarded a scholarship. The scholarships were available to students pursuing two-year or four-year degrees or vocational programs. The average recipient had a GPA of 3.82 on a 4.0 scale.
This year marks the 36th year for the scholarship program, which began in 1984 with 16 scholarships offered. Since then, more than
$50 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through FFA.
