Scholarships

Awards and Scholarships

Awards and scholarships are available to students in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences who show outstanding scholarship, character, leadership and involvement in department activities. They are presented annually at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Honors Banquet during Spring semester. For more information, contact your academic advisor.

Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

The Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences has scholarships available each year for sophomores, juniors, and seniors based on GPA. Scholarships range from $1000 to $3500 per student and one-half of the scholarship is awarded each semester. The Department sends an electronic application form to all existing Crop and Soil Science (CSS) students in late January, and applications are due February 21, 2020.

American Society of Agronomy Outstanding Senior Award: Chosen by a faculty committee. The recipient is a senior in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences who combines leadership in the Spartan Agronomy Club and other departmental activities with a high level of academic success. The recipient receives an engraved plaque and key. (no scholarship application required for this American Society of Agronomy Outstanding Senior Award).
James and Donna Kells Scholarship for Undergraduate Study Abroad. Scholarships are available to Undergraduate students majoring in Crop and Soil Sciences, to support participation in CANR Sponsored Study Abroad Programs. Study Abroad programs offered through other MSU Colleges, or institutions other than MSU are not supported by this scholarship. Application, Instructions and Procedures.
Undergraduate Soybean Summer Research Award: This award is given to one student that conducts soybean research in the summer under the direction of a MSU faculty member. Information about the award and the Application form.
Michigan Crop Improvement Association Scholarship for students enrolled in the Institute of Agricultural Technologies Agricultural Industries Certificate program. Application form.
2020 Fruit and Vegetable Industry Scholarship Application. To apply for this scholarship, a student must be a sophomore or above and intend to pursue a career in or connected to the Midwest fruit or vegetable industry. Application deadline October 7, 2020. Application form.

Scholarship Application form for the following undergraduate scholarships

CSS Faculty Awards: Presented annually to students who have completed at least two semesters of study at MSU and who demonstrate outstanding leadership and scholarship. The recipients are chosen by a faculty committee.
L. S. Robertson Soil and Water Conservation Endowed Scholarship: Presented to a student emphasizing soil and/or water conservation and related fields. The recipient is chosen by a faculty committee.
Leyton V. Nelson Endowed Scholarship: Presented annually to an undergraduate student with an interest in corn and dry bean production, who has completed at least two semesters of study and demonstrates outstanding leadership and scholarship. The recipient is chosen by a faculty committee.
Michigan Crop Improvement Scholarship: Awarded to 8 - 10 undergraduate students. If recipients make acceptable academic progress, these scholarships may be renewable.
Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee: The MSPC works closely with Michigan State University (MSU) to help increase student interest in soybean production, soyfoods and soy industry careers. Scholarship applicants must be undergraduate full-time students (12 credit hours or more) in their junior or senior year and possess a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average based on a 4.0 scale. MSPC scholarships are offered to students enrolled in MSU’s Crop and Soil Science (CSS) program. Awards will be given to two juniors and two seniors selected by a faculty committee.
Robert Lucas Scholarship: Awarded to students with an interest in Extension. The recipient is chosen by a faculty committee.
Roy A. and Amelia M. Greenia Endowed Scholarship: Awarded to one or more undergraduate students majoring in Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, with a preference given to undergraduate students interested in the seed industry.

Michigan State University

MSU offers a wide variety of scholarships, some of which have criteria which severely limit the number of students who might be eligible for the scholarship, while others have much broader criteria. You may search for such scholarships in the MSU Scholarship Search database.
There are also many other scholarship opportunities available from the Office of Financial Aid

Michigan

There are many scholarship opportunities available to CSS students. These are some of the scholarships that have been awarded to CSS students in recent years.

Centennial Farm Association Scholarship: Awarded to a junior or senior, from a Centennial farm. Applications are available in 121 Agriculture Hall.
County Farm Bureau Scholarships: Student must be a member of the Farm Bureau to qualify. See the Michigan Farm Bureau Scholarships page for more information.
Jordan Tatter Scholarship: Award provides support to students pursuing a career in or working with the fruit and vegetable industries. Scholarship applications are due October 9.
Michigan Agri-Business Association Scholarships: Students are eligible for these scholarships for a maximum of four semesters and must submit a new application for each semester Mich. Agri-Business Association Scholarship application are due June 1 and October 1.
Michigan Corn Growers Association Scholarships: Two scholarships are awarded each year and are due in February. For more information, see MCGA Scholarship Program .
Michigan Dairy Memorial and Scholarship Foundation: Available to Freshmen and Agricultural Technology students interested in the dairy industry. Applications are available in 1250 Anthony Hall and are due by April 1.
Michigan Farm Bureau Marge Karker Scholarship: Student must be from a Farm Bureau family or have a Farm Bureau membership. Scholarship applications are due by March 1.
Michigan Soybean Association Scholarship for ASA members, as well as the children and grandchildren of members.
Soils Classifiers Association of Michigan Scholarships: Two scholarships are awarded each year, based on GPA, soil science courses taken, leadership, and interest in the field of soils. Scholarship applications are due by March 15.
Michigan Farm and Garden - Saginaw Branch, see application form for requirements.

National

Annie's Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships: Presented to students pursuing degrees that promote sustainable agriculture. See Annie's Homegrown Web site for more information.
ASA Scholarships: Awarded to undergraduate students pursuing degrees in agriculture. See Agronomy Awards for more information.
Careers in Agriculture Scholarship Program, Winfield Solutions. $1000 to college freshman or sophomores. Deadline mid February. See application for more details.
Daughters of American Agriculture: The DAA Foundation provides $1000 scholarships to farm, ranch and agribusiness women or their daughters in two categories: the Jean Ibendahl scholarship to high school graduates age 18-23 and the Sister Thomas More Bertels scholarship to women age 24 and over. Scholarship funds may be used for accredited courses in agricultural leadership, communications, rural sociology, medicine, or other courses directly related to agriculture. See Daughters of American Agriculture Scholarships for more information.
Grain Elevator and Processing Society Scholarships: Presented to undergraduates and Agricultural Technology students interested in studying grain-handling operations in a post-secondary program. The application deadline is May 1. See the Grain Elevator and Processing Society for more information.
The GROWMARK Foundation will provide fifteen $1500 scholarships to students pursuing agriculture-related degrees or certificates at colleges, universities, or technical schools in the United States and Ontario, Canada. Students must be high school seniors or the equivalent, or continuing students enrolled in good standing at a college, university, or technical school. Scholarships will be awarded based on information collected in this application, including academic achievement, school and community involvement, and essay responses. See GROWMARK application form.
Jerry Minore Scholarship Available for Ag Students: The Minore Memorial Scholarship will fund two $2,500 scholarships for the academic year. Additional information, including instructions for applying, are available at the National Wheat Foundation Website. Applications are due December 31.
Mid America Croplife Association (MACA) Young Leadership Scholarships: Sophomores or juniors with an educational focus on agriculture. Candidates must be enrolled at one of the 13 Land-Grant Universities and have secured a summer internship (2016) within agriculture. See MACA 2016 Young Leader Scholarship Program Overview for more information. Applications are due January 25th 2016.
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC) Foundation (FEAE). Open to second year undergraduate student pursuing and presently enrolled in a four-year degree in a major or discipline in agriculture, such as Soil Sciences, Agronomy, Entomology, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Weed Science.
National Corn Growers Association and BASF Corporation - Five $1,500 scholarships are available to college students (sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduate students and Ph.D. candidates) who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in an agricultural, agribusiness or an ag-vocation field. See the National Corn Growers Association Scholarship Page for more information, this year applications due by December 4, 2020.
National FFA Scholarships: Awarded to students based on FFA involvement, work experience, Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE), community service, leadership skills and academics. See the National FFA Organization Web site for more information.
National Garden Club Scholarships: Awarded to students pursuing degrees in Agriculture, Horticulture, Botany, Biology, and/or other related subjects. See NGC Scholarships for more information.
National Science Foundation and Michigan State University - College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, CANR STEM-FEE Scholars Program. Eligible scholars will receive up to $10,000 the first year of participation and $5,000 in subsequent years for a maximum potential of $25,000 depending upon financial eligibility. For additional information see https://www.canr.msu.edu/academics/undergraduate/stem-fee-scholars.
Secure Optimal Yield Scholarship: Presented by the American Soybean Association and awarded to high school seniors. See Secure Optimal Yield for more information.
Soil and Water Conservation Society Scholarships: Awarded to students pursuing degrees in natural resources conservation. See SWCS Scholarships for more information.
Syngenta Student Scholarships. Presented to undergraduates pursuing a career in agriculture. For additional information see www.syngenta-us.com/scholarships/.
USDA Public Service Leaders Scholarship: Provides undergraduate and graduate level students with a challenging internship opportunity combined with a scholarship. The program is designed to promote public service and create access to higher education. Upon successful completion of program and degree requirements, participants become permanent employees of USDA. See the USDA Public Service Leaders Scholarship for more information.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP). This federal grant provided funding to under-represented students recruited directly into MSU or a student transferring from Bay Mills Community College (BMCC) or Lansing Community College (LCC). Applicants to this program must be planning to study in one of the following fields: animal science, crop and soil sciences, dietetics, food science, forestry, or horticulture.

See the Agriculture Scholarships Web site for information on other scholarship opportunities.

Turfgrass Awards and Scholarships

Burt Bradshaw Award of Lawn Equipment Inc.: Selected by a faculty committee. The recipient is an outstanding student in turfgrass science and has demonstrated leadership qualities. Plaque and a cash award are presented.
Charles E. and Frances M. Osterman Scholarship: Awarded to one of more undergraduate students majoring in the Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences with an emphasis in turfgrass management. Applications are submitted in the spring of each year and awarded the following Fall and Spring semesters. Selection is made by the Department Scholarship Committee.
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Scholarship: Recipient is chosen by the Association on the basis of scholarship, aptitude, achievement, character, attitude, professed interest in golf course management as a career, and a need for financial assistance. Applications for the scholarship are accepted upon the recommendation of the turfgrass advisor or turfgrass faculty only. Interested students should contact their turfgrass advisor, for additional information. The recipient receives a plaque, cash award, and a trip to the GCSAA national meeting.
MTF Hancock Award: Selected by a committee of faculty members and the Board of Directors of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation annually chooses a two-year or four-year student, based on character and potential to make a meaningful contribution to the turfgrass industry. The recipient receives a plaque and a cash award.
North Michigan GCSA Award: Award is based on attitude and potential as a golf course superintendent and is given to a resident of northern Michigan enrolled in the two-year or four-year turfgrass program. The award is a certificate and cash.
Trans-Mississippi Golf Association Scholarship: Awarded to a student who demonstrates scholarship, outstanding attitude, and potential as a golf course superintendent. Selection is made by turfgrass faculty members.
Western Michigan GCSA Award: Selected by a committee of industry representatives and turfgrass science faculty chooses a resident of western Michigan who demonstrates leadership, scholarship, and an interest in turfgrass management. A certificate and cash are awarded.

Other Opportunities for Awards and Scholarships

Many companies and organizations offer scholarships to students in agriculture-related fields. Sometimes these scholarships are for students attending Michigan State University; others are competitive on a national basis. Contact your advisor or these organizations for more information.

The state of Michigan also provides help to Michigan college students through:

In addition to these scholarships offered by the department, college, and other organizations, students seeking financial assistance should obtain financial aid information from the Office of Financial Aid , 259 Student Services Building.

College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences