Six agricultural students have each earned a $2,500 scholarship, plus a donation to the charity of their choosing, through the Accelerating a Generation Syngenta Scholarship Program. Those selected are looking to study in a variety of fields, including agronomy, crop science, and environmental engineering.
The 2021 scholarship program was held in a partnership with Syngenta and run by the National FFA Organization. Each recipient individually selected an agriculture-related nonprofit organization to get a $500 gift.
The selected winners and their designated charities were:
- Breanna Chavez from Gilmer, Texas; a student at Texas A&M University — Texas FFA Foundation
- Madison Hargarten from Winchester, Indiana; a student at Purdue University — Winchester Community Garden
- Leah Hudson from Topeka, Kansas; a student at Kansas State University — Kansas 4-H
- LeAnne Pace from Mount Hope, Alabama; a student at Auburn University — Lawrence County Alabama Cattlemen’s Association
- Leslie Webb from Greenwood, Delaware a student at the University of Delaware — Delaware 4-H Foundation
- Elise Wilkins from Tekoa, Washington a student at Montana State University — Second Chance Ranch of Spokane
Chavez, who will be the first in her family to attend college, said she was honored to receive this scholarship as she pursues a degree in nutrition from Texas A&M University.
“This scholarship means the opportunity to attend college as a first-generation college student,” Chavez said. “It is a real self-esteem booster to know that an organization on the national level believes in me.”
Hargarten said she is happy to pursue her passion for agriculture with a scholarship that will help “relieve financial stress” while she heads to Purdue University.
“I am so very passionate about agriculture and love being immersed in it whether that is just being outside, being in the barn or mentoring younger kids,” Hargarten said.
Those looking to apply for the scholarship for 2022 can visit the FFA Scholarship portal. Applications will open in October.
