1st Farm Credit Services has again provided its community college agricultural scholarship program, bestowing $500 in scholarship funds each at nine community colleges with an agricultural curriculum. The nine community colleges are located in the organization’s 42-county service territory.

Most of the community colleges offer one $500 scholarship, but one also has opted to provide two $250 ag scholarships from the funds. The scholarship recipients are selected by the respective community college.

The program is designed to assist deserving students at these institutions in pursuing an education in an agriculture or agriculture-related course of study.

In the 2002-2003 school year, 10 students received 1st FCS ag scholarships at the nine community colleges. The recipients are:

Blackhawk College – East Campus, Kewanee – Kristian Anderson, Geneseo. Anderson is the son of Kent and Martha Anderson. He graduated from J.D. Darnall High School where he was active in FFA, serving as chapter secretary. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture production.

Carl Sandburg College, Galesburg – Richard Edmunds, Dallas City. Edmunds is the son of Dick and Carol Edmunds. He graduated from LaHarpe High School where he was active in FFA all four years. He also was active in 4-H and served as club president for two years. He has invented several items that have been submitted to distributors. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture.

Highland Community College, Freeport – Kevin Heimerdinger, Pearl City. Heimerdinger is the son of Earl and Cindy Heimerdinger. He graduated third in his class at Pearl City High School where he earned the State FFA Degree. A National Honor Society member, he also was active in 4-H and sports. Heimerdinger is pursuing a degree in agriculture business and communications and plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

Illinois Central College, East Peoria. – Josh Reck, Dunlap. Reck is the son of Joe and Patty Reck. He graduated from Dunlap High School where he was active in FFA, serving as chapter president. He also participated in sports. Reck is enrolled in the agriculture transfer program, with plans to pursue an agriculture business management degree at Illinois State University.

Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby – Kevin Gahan, Utica. Gahan is the son of Don and Glenda Gahan. He graduated from LaSalle-Peru Township High School where he was active in FFA, and is now serving as FFA Alumni president. He also was active in 4-H. He is pursuing a degree in agribusiness. Gahan also received the 1st FCS agricultural scholarship at IVCC the previous year.

John Wood Community College, Quincy – Jay Roskamp, Sutter. Roskamp is the son of Randy and Cindy Roskamp. He graduated from Warsaw High School. He was active in sports and in FFA, serving as section reporter and winning forage crop production awards at the section and district levels. He also was active in 4-H, serving on the Hancock County 4-H Federation for six years. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture business management and plans to transfer to Western Illinois University.

Joliet Junior College, Joliet, (two $250 scholarships awarded) – Marc Bauer, Cissna Park. Bauer is the son of Fred and Sandy Bauer. He graduated in the top one-third of his class at Cissna Park High School, where he was active in FFA. He served as chapter vice president, was section beef entrepreneur winner and received the section Star Farmer Award. He also served in a number of offices in his 4-H club, including president. He is pursuing a degree in ag production and management.

Jeff Landers, Earlville. Landers is the son of William and Cindy Landers. He graduated in the top one-quarter of his class at Serena High School. He served as assistant vice president and treasurer of his FFA Chapter and received both his State FFA Degree and the American FFA Degree. He also was an 11-year 4-H member where he was on the livestock judging team seven years and served as club president. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture education and plans to transfer to either Western Illinois University or Iowa State University.

Kishwaukee College, Malta – Zach Henkel, West Brooklyn. Henkel is the son of Dennis and Diane Henkel. He graduated from Mendota High School, where he was active in FFA, serving as section vice president. He currently is pursuing an agriculture transfer degree.

Spoon River College, Canton – Cam Delligatti, Canton. Delligatti is the son of Mike and Debi Delligatti. He graduated in the top one-fifth of his class from Canton High School where he was active in FFA, receiving a number of awards, including the American FFA Degree. He is pursuing a degree in agriculture business management and plans to transfer to Western Illinois University.

Apply for the 2003-2004 program

1st FCS is again offering the community college agricultural scholarship program in 2003.

For applications and selection details about the 1st FCS ag scholarship – and other available scholarships – at these nine community colleges, students should contact the institution’s financial aid office or agriculture department directly.