Last Updated February 19, 2016

EXCELLENCE IN AGRICULTURE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

The Excellence in Ag Scholarship Program is intended to attract top-notch college students who are committed to lend their talents, education and initiative to improve, maintain, and bolster the agriculture (specifically potato) industry. Candidates should

have a passion and willingness to work and attain a career that benefits the WA/OR potato industry and promotes pride in the agriculture industry.

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HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF FUNDING SOURCE

The Washington State Potato Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2000. A volunteer Scholarship Committee is formulated each year and evaluates applications of 50+ candidates every Spring. Since 2001, the WSPF has awarded over 300 students a total of almost $600,000 in funds to support student educations via scholarship and summer work experience.

This scholarship program awards gifts of $1000-$5000 to up to 30 students annually depending on available funding. These Excellence in Ag (EA) Scholarships are typically one year in duration, unless otherwise noted. Students may apply for multiple years, but must complete a new application packet with new letters of reference each year.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA The Excellence In Agriculture (EA) Scholarship Program is open to graduate school, college and trade school students in the Washington and Oregon potato growing regions.

To qualify for all WSPF Awards, a student should demonstrate many of the following traits: ♦ Must be enrolled full time (trade school, college or graduate school) pursuing agriculture

degrees (or ancillary degrees that will directly benefit agriculture) ♦ Desire to attain a career that supports and bolsters the agriculture industry (with special

emphasis in the WA/OR potato growing regions) ♦ Have above average academic record (GPA, rigor of schools/coursework) ♦ Have a work history, with record of ag involvement ♦ Show extra-curricular and/or community service involvement ♦ Demonstrate willingness to excel and be a leader in academics and beyond ♦ Secure strong character references (with preference given to those received from ag

leaders/professionals) ♦ Passion and dedication to lend education and talents to promote pride in agriculture.

WORDS OF ADVICE • Please refer to “SCHOLARSHIP TIPS” if you are interested in additional constructive direction

for your application. www.potatofoundation.org • Don’t plan on having your parents do the work for you (submit app, chase letters, call with

questions). This is your scholarship and we hope that YOU will be personally engaged in earning this award.

• Scholarship volunteers keep records, please don’t try to re-submit an application from prior years, you will likely be disqualified.

• Re-read or have someone proofread your application. Punctuation and grammar does matter.

SCORING CRITERIA ♦ 0-10 points: Grade Point Average and academic achievements ♦ 0-30 points: Relevance of major and career aspiration to the agriculture industry ♦ 0-10 points: Application completion: tidiness, appearance, grammar and spelling ♦ 0-20 points: Quality of leadership and community service experiences ♦ 0-20 points: quality of letters (specific, non-generic and personal) ♦ 0-10 points: Discretionary/Bonus points (student correspondence rather than parent, responds

quickly to calls/e-mails, professionalism/maturity of interaction)

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WSPF PREMIER AWARDS Top Excellence in Agriculture (EA) Scholarship candidates may be eligible for Premier Awards such as the Ag Ambassadors Award or the Dallas Batchelor Memorial Scholarship. Consideration for these awards will be based on the completion of one additional essay question at the end of this application. Award is not guaranteed annually, but rather will be based on fund availability and qualified applicants. A summary and description of these awards are as follows.

Applications are due March 25th. Scholarship winners will be notified prior to May 10th.

All inquiries can be directed to: Kellee Balcom, Executive Director Washington State Potato Foundation PO Box 5051, Pasco, WA 99302 Phone: 509.528.4144 phone/text Fax: 509.271.0006 www.potatofoundation.org kbalcom@potatoes.com e-mail

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Application Submitted in timely fashion Letters and application are new/updated from prior year applications Direct communication with student (via phone/email)

☐ Yes ☐ No

☐ Yes ☐ No

☐ Yes ☐ No

AG AMBASSADOR AWARD Eligibility: Sophomore or above (including Graduate Level) Amount: Up to $5000 per school year recurring up to 3 years

Up to $1500 per summer for ag-related summer work experiences Other Conditions:

• Opportunities to design ag related summer work experiences • Networking meetings with key industry leaders • Leadership and speaking opportunities with industry supporters and WSPF

audiences • Would be willing to consider serving as an ambassador to other students in the

agriculture disciplines. • Serve as a spokesperson for the Ag Ambassador Award

o Maintain ongoing contact with the WSPF Executive Director throughout the year

o Would provide written piece (2 times year) for WSPF website

o May be asked to participate in Industry Leadership Banquet in January

DALLAS BATCHELOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Eligibility: Sophomore or above (including Graduate Level) Amount: Up to $2500 per school year recurring up to 3 years

Up to $1500 per summer ag science work experiences Other Conditions:

o An interview and/or additional application may be required

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BE SURE TO PROOF-READ AND SPELL CHECK YOUR APPLICATION!

1. Name E-mail: First Middle Last

2. Permanent Mailing Address

Street City State Zip

3. Phone Number: Cell phone:

4. Parent Name(s):

Parent(s) Employer: 5. Applicant will apply to enter, or is currently enrolled in what college or trade school?

6. For the academic school year beginning: 7. Major Course of Study:

8. Career Aspirations (uncertain is acceptable answer):

9. Please list high schools, trade schools, junior colleges and colleges you have attended.

Schools Dates

10. Cumulative High School GPA:

College GPA to date?

Please include most recent transcripts with this application. (They do not need to be official-aka received from the registrar)

11. What will be your academic level for the upcoming school year?

☐ Freshman (college) ☐ Sophomore ☐ Junior ☐ Senior ☐ Graduate

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12. Are you a member of any clubs/fraternal organizations, especially those related to agriculture? (FFA, 4-H or other)

13. Please list the top extra curricular and/or community service activities (maximum of 4) that you have been involved in within the last 4 years.

14. Describe your top two leadership experiences and how those motivate you for your future.

15. List any other work experience and briefly describe job responsibilities for each.

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16. Write a brief description regarding your past agriculture experiences. Did you grow up on a farm? Have you ever worked on one? If the answer was yes to either question, describe the farm (acres/crops). What were your responsibilities? If you haven’t worked on the farm…why not, and would you consider it in the future?

17. How your course of study will impact the Washington agriculture industry (select to answer one of the following sections:

a. My degree will be in a production related (growing) specialty. If yes, please explain.

b. Will your course of study be in the agriculture sciences? If yes, please explain.

c. My anticipated degree doesn’t fit into any of the aforementioned categories, however I am certain that my pursuit will benefit agriculture in the following way:

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18. How do you intend to use your course of study to be involved in Washington Ag Industry?

19. LETTTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

a. Applicant must submit two or more letters of recommendation (no more than 4), giving information about your character, initiative, motivation, capabilities and leadership ability. At least one letter must be from someone currently working in the agriculture industry. The letters must be received by the application deadline of March 25th. They may be mailed or emailed directly to WSPF.

b. Please provide the names of the individuals who will be supplying the confidential letters of recommendation. Though you may have relatives in the industry, try to use references who are not-related to you if at all possible. If you feel they are essential, submit them as “supplemental” to the required two.

Name Company Phone Ag related?

1) ☐ Yes ☐ No

2) ☐ Yes ☐ No

Recommendations 3 and 4 not required

3) ☐ Yes ☐ No

4) ☐ Yes ☐ No

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR EITHER OF THE PREMIER AWARDS* PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING QUESTION

*AG AMBASSADOR AWARD OR DALLAS BATCHELOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP If you are not applying for these, please skip to the checklist/signature page

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OPTIONAL QUESTION FOR :

AG AMBASSADOR AWARD Eligibility: Sophomore or above (including Graduate Level) Amount: Up to $5000 per school year recurring up to 3 years

Up to $1500 per summer for ag-related summer work experiences Other Conditions:

• Opportunities to design ag related summer work experiences • Networking meetings with key industry leaders • Leadership and speaking opportunities with industry supporters and WSPF audiences • Would be willing to consider serving as an ambassador to other students in the

agriculture disciplines. • Serve as a spokesperson for the Ag Ambassador Award

o Maintain ongoing contact with the WSPF Executive Director throughout the year

o Would provide written piece (2 times year) for WSPF website

o May be asked to participate in Industry Leadership Banquet in January

OPTIONAL QUESTION FOR: DALLAS BATCHELOR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Eligibility: Sophomore or above (including Graduate Level) Amount: Up to $2500 per school year recurring up to 3 years

Up to $1500 per summer ag science work experiences Other Conditions:

o An interview and/or additional application requirements may be required

Please expand on Question #18, and Give us your aspirations for what you plan on doing to help agriculture after you graduate. Specifically, how do you plan to use your degree in the workforce to help/be involved with agriculture in the region? No more than 1 double-spaced page (Size 10 Arial font with 1 inch margins), please.

Discuss the impact of Dallas Batchelor on the agriculture industry as it is today and why you believe your qualif ications, education and aspirations will perpetuate his legacy?

No more than 1 double-spaced page (Size 10 Arial font with 1 inch margins), please.

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CHECKLIST:

Are all areas of the application filled out completely?

Have I followed up with my references, or included their letters?

Did I update application answers/letters for this scholarship app (not just cut/paste)?

Have I included my transcripts (un-official is fine)?

Did I have someone else proof-read my application?

Did I sign the application (if submitting by mail)?

SIGNATURE AND AUTHORIZATION

The applicant certifies that the information provided on this form is true. Applicant agrees that if selected for the scholarship, he/she will attend the institution listed and will pursue the major course of study listed in the application for the duration of the academic year. Any changes shall be submitted immediately to WSPF. Applicant understands and agrees that failure to comply with the above may render him/her ineligible for the scholarship. He/she may be required to return any remaining unused portions of the scholarship to the WSPF. It is understood that submission of this completed application gives permission to the WSPF to utilize your name and or photo for promotional and marketing purposes. Applicant (digital) signature:

Please type your name here if submitting by computer. Application should be sent from YOUR email address, not your parent’s). If submitting hard copy by mail, please do not staple your application or enclose folders. Please sign and mail (postmarked by the application due date) to:

Washington State Potato Foundation

PO Box 5051 Pasco, WA 99302-5051

Date of Submission: The WSPF Scholarship Committee reserves the right to make decisions and award

scholarships based on the clarity, completeness, presentation and timeliness of this application. The WSPF Scholarship committee reserves the right to

make final awards with regard to goals, intent and purpose of the scholarships in its best judgment concerning the final candidates.