Scholarships Support Development of a New Generation of African American Farmers
The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, and the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) today awarded more than $87,000 in scholarships to support the development of a new generation of African American farmers. Established in May 2015, the National Black Farmers Association Scholarship Program funded by the FCA Foundation awarded 19 scholarships to college students who are pursuing agriculture-related study. The FCA Foundation also announced it would fund up to $100,000 for a second year of the NBFA Scholarship program.
“Empowering young people with access to knowledge is transformational,” said Lesley Slavitt, Head of Civic Engagement – External Affairs, FCA US LLC. “Supporting entry to higher education will ensure that these future leaders galvanize the tools, skills and passion necessary to make meaningful change in the world and provide access to food security for generations.”
| $2,500 Scholarship Recipients | ||
| Student, Hometown | School | Major |
| Kamal Bell, Durham, NC | North Carolina A&T State University | Agricultural Education |
| Anthony Bryant, Bronx, NY | Southwest Institute of Healing Arts | Urban Farming |
| Edra Fisher, Havana, IL | Lincoln Land Community College | Agriculture |
| $5,000 Scholarship Recipients | ||
| Demetrius Arnold, Marianna, AR | University Arkansas | Agricultural Technology |
| Victoria Bradley, Memphis, TN | Middle Tennessee State University | Agribusiness |
| Cameron Bradshaw, Jetmore, KS | Kansas State University | Agribusiness |
| Michael Coleman, Raymond, MS | Alcorn State University | Animal Science |
| Mykeldren Davis, Memphis, TN | Alcorn State University | Animal Science |
| Aaron Gauff, Zachary, LA | Lindenwood University | Accounting |
| Gabrielle Galvan, Granada Hills, CA | California Polytechnic State University | Animal Science |
| Danelle Solomon, Nashville, TN | Tennessee State University | Agriculture |
| Caria Hawkins, Glen Saint Mary, FL | Columbia Southern University | Environmental Management |
| Charisma Heath, Austell, GA | Fort Valley State University | Veterinary Science |
| Zaid Hightower, Cleveland, OH | Ohio State University | Psychology/Agriculture |
| Kahmron Hymes, Crossett, AR | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Animal Science |
| John McKenzie, Kennesaw, GA | Tuskegee University | Nutrition Biology |
| Kristen Stigger, Memphis, TN | Tennessee State University | Agriculture Soil Science |
| Aaron Stripling, Austin, TX | Prairie View A&M University | Agriculture |
| Justin Walker, Elon, NC | North Carolina A&T State University | Agricultural Education |
Scholarship recipients were selected based upon several criteria, including academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in agricultural and community activities, and career goals and objectives.
“The plight of the black farmers and the loss of Black-owned farms, have been a major issue for well over a 100 years,” said John Boyd, Jr., President of the National Black Farmers Association. “In 1910, nearly 1 million Black Farm families owned over 15 million acres of land. Today, less than 45,000 black farm families own 3 million acres. The NBFA Scholarship program will begin to address black land loss.”
Information about how to apply for the 2016 NBFA scholarship program will be available in early May at https://scholarsapply.org/blackfarmersassociation/.
