Project Grant 20223843037007

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, BACCALAUREATE DEGREE OBTAINMENTS, AND PROGRESSION OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS IN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND RELATED FIELDS (FAS AND RF). USDA/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA) SCHOLARSHIPS WILL BE ACCORDED. UPON GRADUATION AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THESE STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED WITH THE USDA WORKFORCE. THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES ARE: (1) TO LEVERAGE THE USDA/NIFA 1890 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WITH OTHER SOURCES OF STUDENTS' FINANCIAL SUPPORT, (2) TO ASSESS THE SCHOLARSHIPS' IMPACTS ON RECRUITMENT NUMBERS AND RETENTION RATE, AND (3) TO DETERMINE THE SCHOLARSHIPS' IMPACTS ON STUDENTS PROGRESSING AND OBTAINING BACCALAUREATE DEGREES, AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES WORKFORCE. THE SELECTED STUDENTS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM CUMULATIVE GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) OF 2.8 AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION, AND MAINTAIN AT LEAST A 2.8 GPA ON A SEMESTER AND CUMULATIVE BASIS WHILE RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS MUST BE ENROLLED AS FULL-TIME STUDENTS (12 HOURS MINIMUM). APPROXIMATELY, 50 FULL AND 40 PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS WILL BE GRANTED. THE DEPARTMENTS PRIMARILY TARGETED ARE AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES, AND URBAN FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. WHERE APPLICABLE, THE USDA/NIFA SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WILL BE LEVERAGED WITH OTHER FINANCIAL AWARDS OF THE SELECTED STUDENTS.