Twenty-three incoming freshmen from across North Carolina and the Southeast have joined the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as CAES 1890 Agricultural Scholars this fall.

The CAES 1890 Agricultural Scholars Program, in its first year, provides full tuition, books and software, room and board for up to four years for students pursuing careers in the agricultural sciences.

This first cohort of students has intended majors ranging from landscape architecture and food science to agricultural education and biological engineering. Eighteen of the students are from North Carolina; five more students are from states across the Southeast region.

“This scholarship provides access and opportunity to underrepresented students who otherwise would not have the financial means to achieve their dreams and goals,” said Antoine Alston, associate dean for academics.

The scholarship program not only provides students with a full scholarship for four years, but it helps students to thrive once they’re on campus by pairing them with a faculty mentor and giving them professional development opportunities in the food, agricultural and natural resource disciplines, Alston said.

The program is open to high school students and currently enrolled or college transfer students who demonstrate exemplary leadership traits and a commitment to community service.