Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation Awards Eleven Scholarships

Jun 18, 2021


[LINCOLN, NE June 18, 2021] – The Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation (NCCEF) has awarded 11 scholarships totaling $31,000 for the 2021/22 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, 220 scholarships totaling $282,600 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 21/22AY recipients are:

Recipient of a $3,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Robert C. Andersen
  • Elizabeth Yrkoski, daughter of Joseph & Mary Yrkoski of Fullerton, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Yrkoski’s are members of CVA headquartered in York and Frontier Co-op headquartered in Lincoln.
Recipients of a $3,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Michael S. Turner
  • Madison Adam, daughter of Alex & Natalie Adam of Alliance, will be a sophomore at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Adam’s are members of WESTCO headquartered in Alliance, Farmers Co-op Elevator Company headquartered in Hemingford, and a customer of  Farm Credit Services of America headquartered in Omaha.
  • Alice McDonald, daughter of John & Susan McDonald of Phillips, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The McDonald’s are members of Aurora Co-op Elevator Company  headquartered in Aurora, CVA headquartered in York, and CPI headquartered in Hastings.
  • Wesley Wach, son of Loran & Nancy Wach of Wauneta, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Wach’s 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.
  • Layne Miller, son of Roy & Sarah Miller of Oakland, will be a junior at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Miller’s are members of CVA headquartered in York.
  • Cade Payne, son of Josh & Ann Payne of Hemingford, will be a junior at UNL majoring in agribusiness. The Payne’s are members of WESTCO headquartered in Alliance, Farmers Co-op Elevator Company headquartered in Hemingford, and Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Assn headquartered in Alliance.
  • Alexander Kumm, son of Mark & Joan Kumm of Osmond, will be a senior at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The Kumm’s are members of Farmers Pride headquartered in Battle Creek.
  • Samuel VonSpreckelsen, son of Scot & Robyn VonSpreckelsen of Clay Center, will be a freshman at UNL majoring in agricultural economics. The VonSpreckelsen’s are members of the Aurora Co-op Elevator Co headquartered in Aurora.
  • Cooper Schutz, son of Joel & Jennifer Schutz of Arapahoe, will be a sophomore at UNK majoring in agribusiness. The Schutz’s are members of Ag Valley Co-op headquartered in Edison.
Recipients of a $2,000 NCCEF Scholarship in Honor of Michael S. Turner
  • Brandi Coons, daughter of Randy & Tammy Coons of Callaway, will be a 1st year student at NCTA majoring in ag production systems. The Coons’ are members of Country Partners Co-op headquartered in Gothenburg.
  • James Lee, son of Richard & Jodi Lee of Sutherland, will be a 2nd year student at NCTA majoring in agribusiness. The Lee’s 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.

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