[LINCOLN, NE June 9, 2020] – The Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation (NCCEF) has awarded 11 scholarships totaling $31,000 for the 2020/21 academic year to students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA) at Curtis, and the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK).
The NCCEF scholarship program was initiated for the 1993/94 academic year with funding from voluntary contributions from the agricultural cooperatives which are members of the Nebraska Cooperative Council. Since the program’s inception, 209 scholarships totaling $251,600 have been awarded.
To be eligible for the scholarships, students must be majoring in agricultural business/economics at UNL, agribusiness or ag production systems at NCTA, or agribusiness at UNK. Eligibility is restricted to sons or daughters of a parent or legal guardian who has been an active member, director, or employee for at least the prior three years of a cooperative which has been a member in good standing of the Council for at least five years. Our 20/21AY recipients are:
Recipient of a $3,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Robert C. Andersen
- Emma Goosic, daughter of Andy & Jessica Goosic of Franklin, will be a junior at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Goosics are members of Aurora Co-op Elevator Company headquartered in Aurora and CPI headquartered in Hastings.
Recipients of a $3,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Michael S. Turner
- Wesley Wach, son of Loran & Nancy Wach of Wauneta, will be a junior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Wachs are members of Frenchman Valley Farmers Co-op headquartered in Imperial, Hi-Line Co-op headquartered in Elsie, and Hayes County Farmers Coop headquartered in Hayes Center.
- Maria Harthoorn, daughter of Barry & Sue Harthoorn of Ainsworth, will be a junior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Harthoorns are members of CVA headquartered in York and are customers of Farm Credit Services of America headquartered in Omaha.
- Kyle Leners, son of Scott & Laurie Leners of Filley, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Leners are members of Farmers Cooperative headquartered in Dorchester.
- Alice McDonald, daughter of John & Susan McDonald of Phillips, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The McDonalds are members of Aurora Co-op Elevator Company headquartered in Aurora, CVA headquartered in York, and CPI headquartered in Hastings.
- Elizabeth Yrkoski, daughter of Joseph & Mary Yrkoski of Fullerton, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Yrkoskis are members of CVA headquartered in York and Frontier Co-op headquartered in Lincoln.
- Callie Dethlefs, daughter of Gary & Darlene Dethlefs of Rockville, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Dethlefs are members of Farmers Co-op Association headquartered in Ravenna.
- Alyssa Moser, daughter of Chris & Sandy Moser of Clearwater, will be a freshman at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Mosers are members of CVA headquartered in York.
- Michael Gibbens, son of Jeff & Michelle Gibbens of Comstock, will be a junior at UNK majoring in agribusiness. The Gibbens are members of Country Partners Co-op headquartered in Gothenburg.
Recipients of a $2,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Michael S. Turner
- Taylor Sayer, daughter of Jared & Julie Sayer of Cambridge, will be a 2nd year student at NCTA majoring in ag production systems. The Sayers are members of Ag Valley Co-op headquartered in Edison.
- James Lee, son of Richard & Jodi Lee of Sutherland, will be a 1st year student at NCTA majoring in agribusiness. The Lees are members of Hi-Line Co-op headquartered in Elsie.
“The Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation is honored to provide students with financial support, allowing them to be able to study agricultural business/economics. Education is one of the fundamental cooperative principles, and this program continues to be an important part of our efforts to help youth understand the cooperative way of doing business and interest them in pursuing careers in the agricultural industry here in Nebraska,” according to Gerald Schmidt, Foundation Board Chairman.
The purposes of the Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation are to promote and encourage high school graduates to pursue higher education in the agricultural and agribusiness fields through scholarships and the implementation of school-to-work programs with participating Nebraska cooperatives; to encourage high school graduates to remain in Nebraska in agricultural pursuits all of which will result in community betterment; and the preservation of agriculture as a way of life.
