Compeer Financial awards ag scholarships

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. — Compeer Financial selected 35 high school seniors from Illinois to each receive a scholarship worth $2,000 toward the pursuit of a degree related to agriculture.

The competitive scholarship program through Compeer Giving was available to graduating high school seniors in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin, with 35 recipients selected from each state.

“Compeer is committed to sustaining agriculture and our rural communities, and the next generation is integral to supporting and expanding industries that contribute to a dynamic, collaborative and thriving rural environment,” said Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Giving at Compeer Financial.

“Compeer Giving is proud to help these hard-working students as they pursue a degree in agriculture or a related field and enable them to explore the vast career opportunities across ag-related industries.”

This year’s recipients excel academically with a grade-point average of 3.9. In addition, 74% are involved in FFA, while 20% are members of 4-H. Twenty-two percent of recipients plan to attend a community or technical college.

Among Illinois recipients, top schools of interest include University of Illinois, Illinois Valley Community College, Joliet Junior College, Iowa State University, Kansas State University and John Wood Community College.

Areas of study receiving the most interest among Illinois recipients include ag, plant, animal and veterinary sciences; agricultural business; and ag education.

To qualify for a scholarship, students had to meet three criteria: reside within Compeer Financial’s 144-county territory; hold a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale; and designate an agricultural major, express interest in a field related to agriculture, or have an agricultural or rural background.

Recipients were selected based on their application and essay responses.

Compeer Financial also recognizes the importance of curating an interest in agriculture within urban schools. One scholarship per state was designated for a student from a metropolitan region with an interest in an agriculture-related field.

Metropolitan areas include Cook County in Illinois, Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota and Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.

Including this year’s scholarships, Compeer Financial has provided nearly $1.75 million to more than 1,000 graduating seniors to support education tuition expenses at community colleges, universities and technical schools.

More information about the scholarship program, which began in 2018, can be found at compeer.com/scholarships.

This year’s Illinois scholarship recipients are:

• Kyle Ainger, Harvard

• Grace Althaus, Sublette

• Alex Barnard, Chenoa

• Cadie Bickett, Princeton

• Jolene Blackert, Cambridge

• Austin Buckley, Reddick

• Isaac Burwell, Brimfield

• Anna Carlson, La Moille

• Pippa Dunnill, Kankakee

• Jack Dunseth, Macomb

• Sawyer Fry, Elizabeth

• Willa Getzelman, Hampshire

• Mason Gray, Aledo

• Lydia Hardy, Princeton

• Ryan Jagers, Princeton

• Nolan Kettering, Rushville

• Aidan Knobloch, Buckingham

• Kyla Lamm, Baileyville

• Madeline Lettow, Hanna City

• Ryan Lower, Reynolds

• Ellie McLaughlin, Amboy

• Ryan Mooney, Chicago

• Caitlin Murphy, Princeville

• Kelly O’Connor, Kankakee

• Emma Quinton, Shirley

• Finn Rosengren, Ottawa

• Riggens Shafer, Wyoming

• Caroline Spangler, Marietta

• Leah Stamberger, La Moille

• Trent Stiers, Williamsfield

• Ashley Wiegand, Congerville

• Allayna Wold, Leland

• Cole Wray, Quincy

• Meredith Yung, Alexis

• Charles Zimmerman, Tennessee