The Illinois Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Illinois Purebred Swine Council have $15,500 of scholarships available to pork industry youth. There are two scholarship programs available to students who will be enrolled in college in the Fall of 2012 – IPPA Scholarships and Ryan & Friends Scholarships. The deadline for applications of both scholarships is April 1, 2012. Applications must be postmarked by this date.
“These scholarship programs are an excellent way to reward those students who have been involved in the pork industry through various youth activities,” says Mike Borgic, IPPA director of Membership & Outreach. “Thanks to the Keppy Foundation, these scholarship dollars are a way of assisting pork producer families in paying the rising costs of college.”
IPPA has set aside the total amount of scholarships to be awarded of $13,500. These dollars will be awarded to a total of nine students through the IPPA Scholarship program as follows: three gold scholarships at $2,000 each; three silver scholarships at $1,500 each; and three bronze scholarships at $1,000 each.
Applicants must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or be enrolling to begin in the Fall of 2012 to be eligible.
IPPA scholarships are open to students pursuing any undergraduate degree at any two-year or four-year college. Previous winners may apply for any scholarship level. Applicants must submit a completed application form, transcripts and a list of activities. In addition, applicants must submit a typed essay identifying how they plan to contribute to the future of the pork industry.
The Illinois Purebred Swine Council is again sponsoring the Ryan & Friends Scholarship. This scholarship will award a total of four, $500 scholarships. Applicants must be attending a university, college or community college for the 2012 fall semester. Applicants must also have been a 4-H or FFA member.
Students applying for the Ryan and Friends Scholarship must complete an application form and a typed essay identifying the reason they want to pursue a career in production agriculture, as well as provide transcripts, list of achievements and activities and statement of financial need. Top applicants will be called in for interviews by the Ryan & Friends Scholarship committee.
For more information or an application form, visit www.ilpork.com or contact the IPPA office at (217) 529-3100.