CAES announces record number of USDA 1890 Scholars

The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences has announced 12 new and 11 returning students in the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program for the 2022-23 school year, a record number of scholarship participants according to Larry Hartsfield, USDA 1890 program liaison.

Established in 1992, the program, aimed at students studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and related subjects at historically Black 1890 land-grant universities, provides free tuition and benefits to recipients with the goal of placing successful graduates into careers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program represents a significant partnership between the 1890 Historically Black Land Grant Institutions and the USDA,” said Antoine Alston, Ph.D., associate dean of academic studies. “At N.C. A&T, we currently have 12 new and 11 returning scholars in the program. Historically we have produced many individuals with this program that have gone on to significant roles within the USDA.  Through collaborations such as this, the quality of the future USDA workforce will be guaranteed, keeping the U.S. at the forefront of global agriculture.”

The 2022 cohort also represents a record number of students selected during one application cycle, Hartsfield said.

The 12 new scholars and their USDA agency are:

• Lauren Agnew of Florissant, MO, sustainable land management major (United States Forest Service)
• K’Nai Nelson of Pelzer, S.C., animal science major (United States Forest Service)
• Myles Borders of Upper Marlboro, MD, agribusiness major (Farm Service Agency)
• Sydney Bryson of Lexington, N.C., sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Joshua Carter of Teaneck, N.J., food science major (Agricultural Research Service)
• Jelani Christmas of St. Louis, MO, sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Trinity Gripper of Greensboro, N.C., biological engineering major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Jordan King of Clinton, MD, environmental studies major (Agricultural Research Service)
• Cyheim McRae of Bennetsville, S.C., agricultural education major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Evan Seltzer of Jacksonville, FL., environmental studies major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Taylor Thomas of Brandywine, M.D., agribusiness major (National Agricultural Statistics Service)
• Nia Wade of Charlotte, N.C., agrbusiness major (Farm Service Agency)

The 11 scholars returning for this school year are:

• Kayla Alston of Reidsville animal science major (Agricultural Research Service)
• Kortni Blalock of Oxford, GA, agribusiness major (Foreign Agricultural Service)
• Veronda Blue of Leland, N.C., sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Jalen Day of Haw River, N.C., sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Maryam Farahani of Greensboro, N.C., sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Hannah Hackett of Cary, N.C., sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Mijah Lang of Charlotte, N.C., family & consumer sciences major (National Institute of Food and Agriculture)
• Miles Lee of Decatur, GA, sustainable land management major (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
• Jillian Thomas of Stone Mountain, GA, agribusiness major (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights)
• Tahira Jones of Plano, TX, animal science major (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
• Shaquita Whiting of Greensboro, N.C., animal science major (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)

All USDA 1890 National Scholars are required to commit to at least one year of service with the USDA for each year of financial assistance provided, according to the USDA’s website.