Six students who are pursuing agriculture at universities around the country have each been awarded $2,500 to further their education as part of a scholarship through Syngenta and the National FFA Organization. Called the Accelerating a Generation Syngenta Scholarship Program, the awards also include a $500 donation from Syngenta to the agriculture-related nonprofit of each recipient’s choice.
The selected winners for 2022 and their designated charities are:
- Taylor Baggett from Jay, Florida, a sophomore at the University of Florida (Farm Aid)
- Regan Draeger from Lindsey, Ohio, a senior at The Ohio State University (The Roper’s 4-H Club)
- Luke Heupel from Kalispell, Montana, a sophomore at Montana State University (Field of Hope)
- Johanna Hooten from Red Bud, Illinois, a senior at Murray State University (The Arboretum at Murray State University)
- Deziree Lee from Coffeyville, Kansas, a freshman at Kansas State University (Montgomery County 4-H Fair)
- Ashlyn Persyn from Hondo, Texas, a freshman at Texas A & M University (Medina Valley FFA Boosters)
Hooten, a first-generation college student majoring in horticulture, says agricultural scholarships like this are “a true blessing” because they are helping her remain debt-free while she pursues her degree.
“I continue to study agriculture because it truly is my passion,” she said. “I have always been fascinated by specialty crops such as pumpkins and watermelons, so I decided to get a degree in horticulture. It brings me great joy to teach others about the agriculture industry, and I know that the only way to give others reliable information is to learn it first myself. That is why I felt it was important to continue my education in an agriculture-specific major after high school.”
Likewise, Heupel sees agriculture as a way to help better the planet and its people.
“The world’s population is increasing, and its amount of usable farmland is decreasing,” he says. “Things need to be done to ensure that farmers will be able to feed the world. I believe that a degree in agriculture will allow me to do my part in helping to feed the world.”
Those interested in applying for the scholarship for 2023 can visit the FFA Scholarship portal. Applications open in November.
