HBCU Heritage: USDA Scholarship Opportunities

Looking to attend an HBCU or know a current student that is? Be sure to add the USDA Scholarship opportunities to their application list. As a proud HBCU alum and a descendant of a family of HBCU alums and farm/landowners, I am honored to showcase this scholarship opportunity. Be sure to share on your social media channels and with your personal networks!

HBCU Heritage: USDA Scholarship Opportunities

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program was established in 1992 as part of the partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the 1890 Land-Grant Universities. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is implemented under the USDA Fellows Experience Program (FEP). Scholars accepted into the program will be appointed using the Schedule A(r) authority (5 CFR 213.3202) and may be eligible for noncompetitive conversion to full time employment upon graduation. Successful applicants will receive a temporary appointment to the USDA, not to exceed 4 years. Upon successful completion of the degree requirements and the end of the agreement period, the scholar may be eligible for conversion to permanent appointment in service to USDA without further competition, using the Conversion to Career Conditional Appointment Farm Bill 2018 (5 CFR 213.3102) authority code “ZLM”.

All USDA/1890 National Scholars are required to compete for appropriate employment immediately after graduation and, if selected, commit to at least one year of service to USDA for each year of financial assistance provided. (Note: Specific details of this service requirement will be outlined in the service agreement entered into by the selected Scholar, the University at which the Scholar is matriculated, and the USDA Sponsoring Agency.)

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the following universities:

• Alabama A&M University
• Alcorn State University, Mississippi
• Central State University, Ohio
• 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

Goal

The goal of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and the 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
• Food Sciences/Technology
• Forestry and Related Sciences
• Home Economics/Nutrition
• Horticulture
• Natural Resources Management
• Soil Conservation/Soil Science
• Farm and Range Management
• Other related disciplines, (e.g. non-medical biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science)

The Award
Scholarships are awarded annually and must be used at one of the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. Each award provides full tuition, as well as room and board, for the term of the scholarship. The scholarship may be renewed each year, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and normal progress toward the bachelor’s degree.

General Eligibility
To be eligible for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program scholarship a student must:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)
• Have been accepted for admission or currently attending one of the nineteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities.
• Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
• Demonstrate leadership and community service
• Submit an official transcript with the school seal and an authorized official’s signature
• Submit a signed application (original signature only)

Who Should Apply
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is available to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college and rising college sophomores and juniors.

USDA 1890 National Scholars Program 2020 Application Deadline: January 31, 2020

All application materials must be postmarked by Friday, January 31, 2020, , and sent to the university liaison (or universities) selected by the applicant to attend. (University addresses and contact information are included in the back of the application.)

• Download the 2020 USDA/1890 National Scholars Program High School Application
• Download the 2020 USDA/1890 National Scholars Program College Application

For any questions regarding the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, please contact:

Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
USDA/1890 Programs
1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Stop 0170
Washington, DC 20250
Telephone Number: (202) 720-6350
Fax Number: (202) 720-7704
Email: 1890init@usda.gov

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