Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program

(Applications MUST be postmarked on or before Thursday, May 14, 2009.  See below for details.)


Treasurer Giannoulias honors the 2007-08 scholarship recipients.

Dear Illinois students,

I commend you for pursuing agriculture-related studies. Agriculture is the backbone of the Illinois economy, and we are dependent on bright, devoted and college-educated youths like yourself to keep this industry thriving.

The Illinois State Treasurer's Office supports your pursuit of higher education at an Illinois college or university through the Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship Program. We have already awarded $100,000 in scholarships to rural and urban students seeking degrees in a broad array of agriculture-related fields, from crop and livestock production to agri-business, engineering, communications, economics and animal science.

This year we will select 10 additional recipients to be honored at the Illinois State Fair.

I encourage you to complete the application in this brochure and submit it with the required materials, including a goal statement and essay explaining your choice to pursue an ag-related career. Winners will receive a notification letter by Friday, May 29, 2009.

I look forward to reading your application and wish you the best as you head to college next fall.

Sincerely,

Alexi Giannoulias
Illinois State Treasurer

2009-2010 Scholarship Program
Ten $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to Illinois high school seniors who plan to pursue a college degree and career in agriculture or an agriculture-related field. Scholarship recipients are selected by a panel of Illinois agriculture agency representatives. Winners will be notified in writing by the Treasurer's Office prior to Friday, May 29, 2009 and will be honored at the Illinois State Fair.

Download a brochure and application here. Fill out an online application here.

Treasurer Giannoulias with 2007-08 scholarship recipient Rachel Atwell and Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Molly Reeves.

Scholarship Terms
Scholarship funds are restricted to the payment of tuition, books and/or room and board to an Illinois educational institution. Recipients are not prohibited from pursuing or accepting other forms of financial aid, assistantship, scholarship or tuition waiver. The Treasurer's Office will deposit the $2,500 into a Bright Start College Savings account accessible to the parent(s) of a scholarship winner.

Scholarship Criteria
Applicants must be:

  • A high school senior with a minimum 2.75 GPA in 2008-09
  • A resident of Illinois
  • Accepted at an accredited higher education institution in Illinois
  • Pursuing an agriculture or agriculture-related major

Scholarship Applications

Treasurer Giannoulias with 2007-08 scholarship recipient Jason Barker and Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Molly Reeves.

Applications for the 2009 Excellence in Agriculture Scholarships Program are only available online. All applications must be postmarked on or before Thursday, May 14, 2009 and must be submitted with the following:

  • A typed statement of goals and future plans
  • A typed essay (minimum 250 words) identifying the reason(s) you want to pursue a career in agriculture or an agriculture-related field
  • An official high school transcript
  • Two letters of reference, including one from a non-school source
  • A list of extracurricular activities and honors

Congratulations to the 2008 winners!

Kaitlin Weitekamp of Raymond, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, AgriBusiness Management

Christopher Wilhelmi of Joliet, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Agricultural Engineering

Rachel Atwell of Geneseo, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Environmental/Natural Resource Mgmt
Jared Schwerer of Blandinsville, Western Illinois University, Agriculture Science/Conservation
Jason Barker of Shelbyville, Lake Land College, Agriculture Production and Business Management
Kathryn Hatfield of Wayne City, Rend Lake College, Animal Science
Kristin DeSutter of Woodhull, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Agriculture Communications
Milan Alexander of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Agricultural/Consumer Economics
Sarah Carson of Maple Park, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Animal Science
Laura Overmyer of Oregon, Augustana College, Biology (Pre-Vet Medicine)

  
   

Employ Illinois gives business owners access to capital to start or enhance their businesses with the help of low- interest rate loans.

Opportunity Illinois backs low-interest loans to consumers and community development agencies to improve the quality of life in Illinois.

Cultivate Illinois helps farmers offset the rising cost of farming and encourages green business development.
Money Market Fund allows local government entities to pool their investments to gain a higher rate of return for their residents.
Online bill paying gives people with busy schedules a quick and convenient way to pay government bills and fees.