USDA/1890 National Scholars Program in the Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resource Sciences
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, use of a laptop, printer, and software while on scholarship and room and board each year for 4 years to students pursuing a bachelor's degree at the following universities:
• Alabama A&M University
• Alcorn State University, Mississippi
• Delaware State University
• Florida A&M University
• Fort Valley State University, Georgia
• Kentucky State University
• Langston University, Oklahoma
• Lincoln University, Missouri
• North Carolina A&T State University
• Prairie View A&M University, Texas
• South Carolina State University
• Southern University, Louisiana
• Tennessee State University
• Tuskegee University, Alabama
• University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff
• University of Maryland - Eastern Shore
• Virginia State University
• West Virginia State University
Purpose:
The purpose of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is:
• to strengthen the long-term partnership between USDA and the 1890 Land Grant Universities
• to increase the number of students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines
• to offer career opportunities to USDA/1890 National Scholars at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Objective:
The National Scholars Program offers scholarships to U.S. citizens who are seeking a bachelor's degree at one of the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions in any field of study in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines. National Scholars are required to study in the following or related disciplines:
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Business/Management
• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics
• Agricultural Production and Technology
• Agronomy or Crop Science
• Animal Sciences
• Botany
• Farm and Range Management
• Fish, Game, or Wildlife Management
• Food Sciences/Technology
• Forestry and Related Sciences
• Home Economics/Nutrition/Human Development
• Horticulture
• Natural Resources Management
• Soil Conservation/Soil Science
• Other related disciplines, (e.g., biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science)
The Award:
Scholarships are awarded annually which must be used at one of the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions. Each award provides annual tuition, employment, employee benefits, and use of a laptop computer, printer and software while on scholarship, fees, books, room and board for each of the 4 academic years, plus a requirement to work in the Student Educational Employment Program. Each annual scholarship renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree. Upon completion of the scholar's academic degree program, there is an obligation of 1 year of service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each year of financial support.
Who may Apply:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens who have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. certificate and are starting their first year of college for a bachelor's degree. (Note: Since this program is intended to increase the number of students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines at participating institutions, currently enrolled bachelor's-level students at these universities are not eligible to apply.)
Application Deadline:
All application materials must be postmarked no later than February 1 and sent to the university(s) selected by the applicant to attend.
General Eligibility:
Applicant must:
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be an entering freshman
• Hold a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate
• Have a high school GPA of 3.0 or better
• Have a combined verbal/math/written score of 1,500 or more on the SAT (note: 1000 or more combined for those universities that only accept verbal/math score) or a composite score of 21 or more on the ACT;
• Attend one of the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Institutions
• Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related disciplines
• Demonstrate leadership and community service
• Apply for admission to the institution(s) of his or her choice. Submit an official transcript with the school seal and an authorized official's signature
• Sign all applications (original signature only)
Click Here To Download the Application Booklet
