Mississippi Women for Agriculture has several scholarships now available! For more information, continue reading and when you're ready, click the Apply for Scholarships button to apply for one of our scholarship opportunities!
Mississippi Women for Agriculture-Dianne Evans Memorial Scholarship
In keeping with the mission “to empower women in agriculture through education, involvement, and action,” the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization (MWA), along with the family of Dianne Evans, offers a one-time $500 scholarship for women who are full time students. Students entering their junior or senior year in college, and graduate students are invited to apply. Applicants must demonstrate how the degree they are seeking relates to agriculture. They must be female residents of Mississippi who are enrolled full time, and able to demonstrate need for a scholarship.
MWA General Scholarship
In keeping with the mission “to empower women in agriculture through education, involvement, and action,” the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization has established a $500 scholarship for women who plan a career in an agricultural field. Students entering their sophomore through senior year in college, and graduate students are invited to apply. Applicants must demonstrate how the degree they are seeking relates to agriculture. They must be female, residents of Mississippi, enrolled full time, and able to demonstrate need for a scholarship.
Alma Cherry & Pam Steele Scholarship
The Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization is pleased to announce 2 new scholarships for women majoring in agriculture related field. The scholarship is named for two women and friends, Alma Cherry and Pam Steele. Both women had a love and passion for agriculture, education and a strong interest in MSU.
Based on Alma Cherry's background, she personifies the characteristics that make Women in Agriculture such an important organization. She grew up on a small farm in East Tennessee working in the field with her father as they grew tobacco and vegetables for the farm market. This continued even after she moved away to Knoxville to pursue her educational career. Alma became a supporter of Mississippi State when she and her husband moved to Starkville for his education. She continued to support agricultural efforts with stops in West Tennessee and afterward when Dr. Cherry worked in the agricultural interests in Washington and worldwide. When she and Ed both retired from their careers in Washington, they immediately moved back to her East Tennessee family farm to build their retirement home.
Pam Steele was born in Hayti, Missouri and had a rich history in agriculture. She was an elementary teacher for many years and promoted the importance of agriculture and education. She joined the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization in its charter year. Pam was also an ambassador for agriculture as she and Gibb travelled nationally and internationally as part of their numerous leadership positions in Delta Council, Mississippi State University research efforts to benefit profitability and sustainability of the land, and the national rice industry, among many other pursuits.
Qualifications
Scholarship applicants must submit the following:
- Proof of residence in Mississippi.
- Official college transcript showing college work completed to date, and GPA, which must be 2.5 or above.
- Tuition invoice and class schedule to verify enrollment in university course work.
- Statement (500 words or less) about personal career goals for working in agriculture, how this scholarship will support academic pursuits, and why the scholarship is needed.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation verifying why applicant fits criteria.
- Application form with items listed above by deadline set by conference committee.
One applicant will receive the scholarship each year at the annual spring meeting of Mississippi Women for Agriculture. All personal information will be kept confidential. The winner’s name will be posted on the MWA website at least one week prior to the MWA Annual Meeting.
Applications will be judged on the following criteria:
- Desire to work in the field of agriculture. . . . 40 points
- Financial need. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 points
- Academic record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 points
- Extra-curricular activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 points
The scholarship recipient will be invited to attend the MWA annual meeting where she will be recognized for her accomplishments, and asked to sign a release form for publishing photos.