Iowa Community College Ag Students Receive Scholarships


Des Moines, IA – The Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) Foundation awards 15 scholarships each year to ag students who attend an Iowa Community College in the spring of 2018. Scholarships were awarded during the Agribusiness Career Day on February 14, 2018. Each $1,000 scholarship is sponsored by an industry member company. Launched in 2014, the ABC Day is celebrating its five-year anniversary. 2018 event set a record for attendance with more than 240 students.

Doug Frodl of Northern Country Coop in Staceyville, Iowa, spoke to students on the importance of internships and being prepared when entering the job market. A panel of speakers discussing global agriculture, moderated by Agribusiness Report anchor David Geiger included Charles Boateng - Monsanto Huxley Learning Center, Tara Howell - Kent Nutrition Group, and Rosalind Fox - John Deere Des Moines Works. Other speakers included: Joel Brinkmeyer, AAI CEO, and David Chaffin, Iowa CCA Program board member.

The AAI Foundation brought in Chad Pregracke from East Moline, Illinois, to speak to the students. In 1998, at the age of 23, Chad founded Living Lands & Waters and in 2013 Chad was named CNN's Hero of the Year for his conservation work on the Mississippi River.

Ultimately, Chad's message is about much more than cleaning rivers. He believes his story is proof that anyone can make a difference. "If I had one thing to say, it wouldn't even be about rivers necessarily. It would be about finding (a) cause that's dear to you and taking action...." said Chad. "Change is slow, like a barge or train, (but) once it builds momentum, it's hard to stop."

2018 Scholarship Recipients

Trent Fincham – Des Moines, IA

Des Moines Area Community College

Sponsored by Iowa Biotechnology Association

Trevor Bundt – Iowa Falls, IA

Ellsworth /Iowa Valley Community College

Sponsored by Landus Cooperative

Sarah Hockemeyer - Holland, IA

Hawkeye Community College

Sponsored by GROWMARK

Martin Beary - Lovilia, IA

Indian Hills Community College

Sponsored by AgVision

Rachel Gulling - Runnells, IA

Iowa Central Community College

Sponsored by Iowa Biotechnology Association

 

 

Megan Brown – West Bend, IA

Iowa Lakes Community College

Iowa CCA Program

Kaitlin Lunn – Council Bluffs, IA

Iowa Western Community College

Sponsored by Crop Production Services

Katy Ward – Elberon, IA

Kirkwood Community College

Sponsored by River Valley Coop

Diana Rubio – Muscatine, IA

Muscatine Community College

Sponsored by Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc.

Jakob Gustin – Meservey, IA

North Iowa Area Community College

Sponsored by AAI Foundation

 

Brennan Schulte – Caledonia, MN

Northeast Iowa Community College

Sponsored by AAI Foundation

Matthew Grave – George, IA

Northwest Community College

Sponsored by Farm Credit Services of America

Kodiak Shimmin – Roseville, IL

Southeastern Community College

Sponsored by AAI Foundation

Chris McCollough, Creston, IA

Southwestern Community College

Sponsored by the AAI Foundation

Grace German – Holstein, IA

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Sponsored by Heartland Coop

About the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Foundation – The AAI Foundation promotes research projects, member education, stewardship and scholarships that benefit AAI members and their families. The charitable goals of the Foundation reflect the interests of the agribusiness industry and benefit AAI members by promoting research projects, member education, stewardship and higher education scholarships. Within these three areas, the Foundation assists applicants as it is related to the benefit of the agribusiness industry.