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Giannoulias awards 10 agriculture scholarships
Number of scholarships doubled this year
August 12, 2008
Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias handed out 10 Excellence in Agriculture Scholarships to
deserving Illinois high school seniors during the annual Agriculture Breakfast this morning at the
Illinois State Fair.
"We doubled the number of scholarships this year because we’ve found that there are so many
Illinois students who are very committed to studying about the state’s No. 1 industry in college,”
Giannoulias said. “We hope these scholarships help these students achieve their dreams as the
future of farming in Illinois.”
The 2008 Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship recipients receive a $2,500 Bright Start College
Savings Account. Bright Start is Illinois’ tax-free 529 college savings plan. To date, the Treasurer’s
Office has awarded $100,000 in agriculture scholarships.
More than 100 high school students applied for these scholarships and the winners were picked
based on their grades, community service and personal essays that explained their commitment to
agriculture studies and careers.
The 2008 Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship winners are:
• Kaitlin Weitekamp, daughter of Lawrence and Nancy Weitekamp of Raymond. She plans to
pursue a degree in agribusiness management at the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign. Kaitlin wants to make sure that the agriculture industry thrives in her lifetime
and in generations to come.
• Christopher Wilhelmi, son of Dennis and Loralyn Wilhelmi of Joliet. He plans to pursue a
degree in agricultural engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Christopher wants to be a researcher and use those applications on his family farm.
• Rachel Atwell, daughter of Maurice and Julie Atwell of Geneseo. She plans to pursue a
degree in environmental and natural resource management at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign. Rachel wants to keep U.S. agriculture as a leader in the world
economy.
• Jared Schwerer, son of Chris and Julie Schwerer of Blandinsville. He plans to pursue a
degree in agriculture science/conservation at Western Illinois University. Jared wants to
learn new ways to conserve the resources on the farm and continue to work on his family
farm.
• Jason Barker, son of Chris and Jane Barker of Shelbyville. He plans to pursue a degree in
agriculture production and business management at Lake Land College. Jason plans to
continue his family business on a family farm that has been passed down from generation to
generation.
• Kathryn Hatfield, daughter of Richard and Paula Hatfield of Wayne City. She plans to
pursue a degree in animal science at Rend Lake College. Kathryn plans to own and
operate her own cattle farm someday.
• Kristin DeSutter, daughter of Randy and Susie DeSutter of Woodhull. She plans to pursue
a degree in agriculture communications at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Kristin plans to become an agriculture communications specialist and help the media and
government officials better understand the industry.
• Milan Alexander, son of Walter and Annie Alexander of Chicago. He plans to pursue a
degree in agricultural and consumer economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign. Milan hopes to promote Ag in the Classroom and push the importance of
agriculture in the state.
• Sarah Carson, daughter of Dan and Anne Carson of Maple Park. She plans to pursue a
degree in animal science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Sarah wants to be
a veterinarian.
• Laura Overmyer, daughter of Mark and Mary Beth Overmyer of Oregon. She plans to
pursue a degree in biology (Pre-Vet Medicine) at Augustana College. Laura wants to
become a veterinarian.
The Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program is coordinated by the Cultivate Illinois division
of the Treasurer’s Office. Other Cultivate Illinois initiatives include low-interest agriculture loans,
which give farmers and agriculture professionals access to capital for annual operating expenses,
long-term investments and alternative agriculture endeavors.
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