"At the heart of a growing America"

1^st FCS Awards Ag Scholarships

2004

Twenty-three graduating high school seniors will receive the 2004 “At the heart of a growing America” agricultural scholarship from 1st Farm Credit Services.

“We continue to be impressed with the quality of the applicants,” according to Wayne Gustafson, 1st FCS president and CEO. This year, a total of 90 applications were received.

The $750 scholarships are awarded to applicants pursuing an agriculture or agriculture-related curriculum at a university, college or community college. Selection is based on a combination of academic achievement, community and agricultural youth organization involvement, and a brief essay.

The program is open to 1st Farm Credit Services client and non-client families. Several regional independent selection committees composed of agribusiness, youth, education and farm organization leaders judged the scholarship applications.

“The purpose of our ‘At the heart of a growing America’ agricultural scholarship program is to assist deserving high school seniors to further their education in an agriculture or agriculture-related field of study, and to help promote agriculture as a growing field of career opportunities,” Gustafson explains.

“We’re very pleased to give something back to agriculture and the communities we serve,” he adds. More than $17,000 in scholarships was awarded in the program, in addition to $4,500 awarded annually in 1st FCS’ community college agricultural scholarship program.

In most cases, the “At the heart of a growing America” scholarship recipients will be recognized at a client appreciation function this summer at one of the 1st FCS offices.

Following is information about this year’s scholars selected from the various 1st FCS offices:

Aledo

Katie Ball, New Boston

Ball is the daughter of Scott and Bonnie Ball. She will be attending Black Hawk College – East Campus, Kewanee, this fall studying agricultural economics. She is graduating 2nd in her class from Westmer High School where she was very involved in FFA, serving as reporter, historian and secretary. She is a 10-year member of 4-H, serving as treasurer, reporter, secretary and president. She participated in Adopt-a-Grandma and food drives. Ball was a member of the National Honor Society and was on the volleyball and softball teams. She also was involved in band, Spanish Club, Scholastic Bowl and Operation Cool and was a D.A.R.E. role model.

Amboy

David Sprung, La Moille

Sprung is the son of Mike and Lori Sprung. He will attend Iowa State University this fall studying landscape architecture. He is graduating 3rd in his class from Amboy High School where he was involved in FFA, participating in section and state soil judging, livestock judging, the state Envirothon and proficiency awards. He also was involved in the Academic Bowl. Sprung was a member of the National Honor Society, served on the Lee County Extension Council and participated in 4-H.

Bourbonnais

Brad Moritz, Buckingham

Moritz is the son of Phillip and Kristi Moritz. He will attend the University of Illinois this fall studying animal science. He is graduating in the top third of his class from Tri-Point High School where he was active in FFA, serving on the recreation committee and livestock judging team and helping with the community blood drive. He served as vice president of the 4-H Club and showed steers as his 4-H project for 10 years. Moritz organized the annual community car wash and delivered food baskets. He was a Student Council member, varsity captain for the football team and a varsity starter for the basketball team.

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Viall is the daughter of Peter and Linda Viall. She will be attending the University of Illinois this fall studying horticulture. She is graduating in the top 16 percent of her class from Manteno High School where she was involved in FFA, serving as chapter reporter and secretary, participating in crops and horse judging and agricultural mechanics, and keeping record books in grain and vegetable production. She also served as 4-H treasurer and president and took many projects to the state fair. Viall attended the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Cooperative Activities Award tour to Washington, D.C., and the Illinois Agricultural Youth Institute. She played four sports in high school and was captain for all of them.

Carthage

Ashton Gronewold, Carthage

Gronewold is the son of Merlin and Jolene Gronewold. He will be attending the University of Missouri this fall studying mechanical engineering. He is graduating 1st in his class from Carthage High School where he was active in FFA and Key Club and served as Student Council president. He has been involved in 4-H since he was 8 years old. Gronewold has organized school dances, food drives and blood drives and was a member of the National Honor Society. He also went to Lima to help tornado victims and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

Edwards

Katie Appenheimer, Toulon

Appenheimer is the daughter of Jeff and Cindy Appenheimer. She will be attending Black Hawk College – East Campus, Kewanee, this fall studying environmental studies. She is graduating 9th in her class from Stark County High School. She is a nine-year member of 4-H. As a four-year 4-H Federation member, she has cleaned litter in roadside ditches and been active in the Adopt-a-Shut-in program.

Eureka

Douglas Toepper, Magnolia

Toepper is the son of Randy and Lori Toepper. He will attend Black Hawk College – East Campus, Kewanee, with plans to transfer to the University of Illinois to study engineering. He is graduating 5th in his class from Midland High School. He has served as FFA and 4-H president. He was a member of the Student Council and Science Club and attended leadership camps, including Made for Excellence (FFA) and the Tri-County Leadership Conference (athletics).

Freeport

Lucas Kempel, Pearl City

Kempel is the son of Jack and Christine Kempel. He will be attending Highland Community College this fall studying agribusiness management. He is graduating in the top 20 percent of his class from Pearl City High School where he was active in FFA, serving as chapter president and section treasurer. He earned his State FFA Degree and was a section winner in diversified livestock and agricultural production. Kempel also helped with Special Olympics, organized FFA Week and the FFA test plot, and attended career development and judging events through FFA. He was senior class president and worked for the school newspaper. He also was on the football and basketball teams and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Geneseo

Danelle DeSmith, Atkinson

DeSmith is the daughter of Ken and Lynette DeSmith. She will attend Southern Illinois University this fall studying marketing and agribusiness. She is graduating in the top 22 percent of her class from J.D. Darnall High School where she was active in FFA, serving as a member of the livestock judging team and livestock judging invitational chairperson. She has been very involved in 4-H, serving as vice president and president, showing livestock at the state fair and serving as chairperson of the Toys for Tots fund-raiser. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council.

Macomb

Sullivan is the daughter of John and Joan Sullivan. She will attend Illinois State University this fall studying communications. She is graduating 6th in her class from Rushville High School where she was very active in FFA, serving as reporter, secretary and president. She participated in 4-H, serving as secretary and president. Sullivan has shown projects, including swine and visual arts, every year at the county fair. She was assistant editor of the yearbook, secretary of Student Council, a member of the flag/pompon squad and co-president of the Junior Main Street Program. She also was a member of the National Honor Society.

Macomb

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Weaver is the daughter of Robert and Diane Weaver. She will attend Spoon River College this fall studying agribusiness and accounting. She is graduating 5th in her class from Lewistown High School where she was active in FFA, serving as chapter reporter and vice president and earning the Star Greenhand Award. She is a nine-year member of 4-H, serving as reporter, secretary, vice president and president. Weaver was secretary of the Spanish Club, class secretary and varsity cheerleader. She also was a member of the National Honor Society.

Monmouth

Tygrett is the son of Tom and Sue Tygrett. He will attend Illinois Central College this fall studying diesel power technology. He is graduating 8th in his class from Roseville High School where he was very involved in FFA, serving as sentinel and vice president and becoming a state supervised agricultural experience program (SAE) winner and national finalist in agricultural maintenance and repair for his agricultural mechanics record project. As a national finalist, he won a 10-day agriculture trip to Costa Rica this June with 40 other winners nationwide. Tygrett also was the national winner of the Chevron FFA tractor restoration contest. He also was involved in 4-H, serving as club secretary.

Morrison

Rahn is the son of Elmer and Annette Rahn Jr. He will be attending Kirkwood Community College this fall studying production agriculture/management. He is graduating from Milledgeville High School where he was very involved in FFA, serving as chapter vice president, reporter and sentinel and section vice president and reporter, and earning his State FFA Degree. He is a 10-year member of 4-H, where he served in all offices and hosted a club tour to demonstrate tractor roll bar safety. He was on the football, basketball and track teams

Normal

Schuler is the son of Andy and Wanda Schuler. He will attend the University of Illinois this fall studying agricultural engineering. He is graduating 2nd in his class from Lexington High School where he was a member of Key Club, class vice president and varsity captain of the golf, baseball and basketball teams. He played percussion in the band. Schuler also helped at the Lexington Food Pantry, food drives and Special Olympics.

Oregon

Diehl is the son of Scott and Barbara Diehl. He will attend the University of Minnesota this fall studying agribusiness management. He is graduating 1st in his class from Oregon High School where he was involved in FFA, serving as chapter treasurer, secretary and vice president and section vice president. He received his State FFA Degree and completed record books. He has been involved in 4-H, serving as treasurer and president. He is a junior member of the American Angus Association and the American Gelbvieh Association.

Ottawa

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Meyer is the son of Thomas and Lisa Meyer. He will attend Joliet Junior College this fall studying agriculture education. He is graduating in the top 13 percent of his class from Sandwich High School where he was president of the FFA Chapter. He also was vice president of the LaSalle County 4-H Club. He served as a class officer and was a member of Student Council and the National Honor Society.

Pekin

Van Etten is the son of Sid and Christy Van Etten. He will be attending the University of Illinois this fall studying mechanical engineering. He is graduating 1st in his class from Illini Central High School where he was active in FFA, serving as treasurer and on the livestock judging team and earning his Star Greenhand and Chapter Star Farmer awards. He is a 10-year member of 4-H, serving as club treasurer, president and junior beef superintendent.

Pontiac

Sass is the son of Dale and Darla Sass. He will attend Joliet Junior College this fall studying agricultural production. He is graduating 13th in his class from Woodland High School where he was involved in FFA, serving as sentinel and president and earning his State FFA Degree. He also earned the Chapter Star Farmer and Star Greenhand awards. He was very active in 4-H and went to the state fair with his woodworking projects.

Princeton

Hanson is the daughter of John Hanson and Blinda Sanchez. She will be attending Illinois Valley Community College this fall studying pre-veterinary medicine. She is graduating in the top 18 percent of her class from Hall High School where she was active in FFA, serving as an officer, attending leadership camp and participating in career development events and contests. She was active in 4-H, serving as an officer, showing at the state and county fairs and presenting a class at the county’s project workshop. She was a member of the National Honor Society.

Quincy

Harpole is the daughter of Edwin and Danita Harpole. She will attend Southern Illinois University this fall studying pharmacy. She is graduating 3rd in her class from West Pike High School. She has been the committee chairperson for community blood drives and organized canned food drives for local food pantries. She works with toddlers and preschoolers in gymnastics and dance classes.

Rockford

Leick is the son of Tom and Karen Leick. He will attend the University of Illinois this fall studying agricultural engineering sciences. He is graduating 6th in his class from Boylan High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society. He is a nine-year member of 4-H, serving as the Fourth of July parade committee chairman and on the dairy promotion committee.

Sycamore

Martz is the son of Michael and Lynn Martz. He will be attending the University of Illinois this fall studying crop science agribusiness. He is graduating 14th in his class from Indian Creek High School where he was active in FFA, serving as treasurer and president, earning his State FFA Degree and participating in section and state livestock judging. He is a 10-year member of 4-H, serving as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. He was an Adopt-a-Highway volunteer, Illinois Beef Association member and Special Olympics volunteer. Martz was on the golf and basketball teams, served as Student Council president and was a Spanish Club member. He was a member of the National Honor Society.

Woodstock

Smith is the daughter of Darren and Julie Smith. She will be attending the University of Illinois this fall studying animal sciences. She is graduating 4th in her class from Prairie Ridge High School where she was a member of the Student Council, Spanish Club and Scholastic Bowl. She organized a bake sale to raise money for Helping Paws Animal Shelter, has been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and wrapped presents to raise money for the sickly. Smith also participated in the Johnny Appleseed Festival for children. She was a member of the National Honor Society.