School of Agriculture

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School of Agriculture Scholarships

All scholarship applications can be completed on the WIU Scholarship Portal.

All scholarships are due March 1.

Agriculture Open House Award(s)

These awards were established as door prizes to support recruitment at prospective student open houses. To be eligible, the student must enroll at WIU, be an agriculture major, and attend a designated Open House.  The award will be split between fall and spring semesters. Recipient(s) will be selected by a random drawing of all Open House attendees. This award is not renewable.

Growmark Scholarship

Starting this year, GROWMARK is providing the scholarships directly to students through the GROWMARK Foundation. To submit your application for the GROWMARK Scholarship you need to follow their process. Additional information about the GROWMARK Foundation Scholarship Program and the application can be found by visiting GROWMARK Student Programs.

Dr. Harry J. Hoerner Precision Agriculture Scholarship

One award divided between fall and spring semesters to an agriculture major who is involved in Ag club activities, in good academic standing, and have a minimum of sophomore status at the time the award is given. Preference will be given to applicants with an interest in precision agriculture. Past recipients may reapply but will not receive preferential consideration. 

Dr. Jerry Vigue Scholarship

One award divided between fall and spring semesters. Applicants must be majoring in Agriculture and have completed a minimum of 30 hours at WIU by the end of the semester of application. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and preference will be given to applicants that are active in Agriculture activities, clubs and student organizations. Financial need is not a consideration. 

Agriculture Legacy Scholarship

Two awards divided between fall and spring semesters. One award is for an incoming freshman or transfer student and one is for a current student. Applicants must be an agriculture majors whose immediate family is an alumni of WIU with first preference given to those whose parents or grandparents are WIU agriculture alumni. Demonstrated academic excellence and involvement in agriculture, as well as financial need as demonstrated by the Financial Aid FAFSA or other documentation, will be considered. Past recipients may reapply but will not receive preferential consideration. 

Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Scholarship

One award will be given to an Ag major with an emphasis in farm management, farm finance, or agribusiness. The student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrated leadership roles in campus organizations or ag student organizations. Application must include a one-page essay about "Why are you interested in pursuing a career in farm management, farm finance or agribusiness?" Although not a major consideration, those students providing the major part of their college expenses on their own will be given special consideration. 

Chicago Farmers Scholarship

One award divided between fall and spring semesters to an undergraduate student who is majoring in any area of agriculture and in good academic standing. Preference will be given to a minority student. This award is not renewable.

Harry "Bud" Bennett Memorial Scholarship

One award divided between the fall & spring semesters. Available to an undergraduate students majoring in any area of agriculture who have a GPA between 2.75-3.25. Preference will be given to a student from Hancock County who plans to either return to or be employed by a family-operated farm upon graduation OR who is currently working on a family farm and juggling multiple responsibilities outside the classroom. Students should submit a one-page document explaining why they have chosen a career in agriculture and how they are involved outside of the classroom. This scholarship is not automatically renewable, but a student can reapply; however, they can receive the award no more than twice. 

Dean and Sharon Chenoweth Agriculture Scholarship

One award divided between the fall and spring semesters. Available to a student enrolled in a major within the School of Agriculture who is sophomore, junior or senior standing and have a 2.75 college GPA or above. Preference will be given to students who are involved in agriculture activities, clubs, and student organizations and who have work experience. This scholarship is renewable; however, past recipients may reapply and enter the applicant pool, but will not receive preferential consideration.

Compeer Financial Scholarship

One award divided between fall and spring semesters to a full-time agriculture student in good standing. Must have a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from high school or community college, demonstrate strong academic performance based on high school, college and university academic performance and ACT score. Must be from one of the counties served by Compeer Financial. 

Bruce Engnell Memorial Scholarship

One award divided between the fall & spring semesters. Available to a sophomore, junior, or senior who have a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Preference will be given to a Livestock Judging Team member (junior or senior on the traveling Livestock Judging Team). If not a Livestock Judging Team member, an Animal Science or other agriculture major with strong connection to animal science is preferred. Students should submit a one or two-page document stating the role agriculture has played in your life and how pursuing a degree in agriculture will help you with your life’s passion. This scholarship is not automatically renewable. Past recipients may reapply but will not receive preferential consideration. 

 Justin Lillesand Memorial "You Do You" Scholarship

One award divided between the fall and spring semesters. Available to an Agriculture major who has completed one year of college/university coursework and registered for a second year. Must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, preference will be given to an applicant with a passion for livestock (preferably in the beef industry). Applicant must submit a resume documenting a strong work ethic and be a U.S. citizen. 

Dr. John S. McVickar Scholarship

One award divided between the fall & spring semesters. Available to an entering freshman or transfer student who plans to pursue a major in the field of plant science and/or soil conservation. Applicant must be a resident of Illinois and possess a minimum ACT score of 20. 

Garrett Mooberry Memorial Scholarship

Two awards divided between the fall and spring semesters.

Scholarship #1: Available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have graduated  from high schools in Tazewell, Peoria, or Woodford counties and who are entering sophomore, junior, or  senior students in the fall semester after the award is announced. Students must be pursuing a degree in the  School of Agriculture and have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA. Financial need shall be considered in the  selection process. Preference will be given to students who have been involved in 4-H, FFA, Hoof & Horn  Club, or any organization related to beef. 

Scholarship #2: Must be pursuing degree in the School of Agriculture and be an entering sophomore, junior,  or senior in the fall semester after the award is announced. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent  resident of the United States and have graduated from any high school in the State of Illinois. Applicants must  have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA. Financial need shall be considered in the selection process. Preference  will be given to students who have been involved in 4-H, FFA, Hoof & Horn Club, or any organization related  to beef.  

This scholarship is renewable. pending academic standing. 

Rep. Richard P. Myers Memorial Scholarship

One award divided between the fall and spring semesters. Available to a student majoring in Agriculture from McDonough County who has completed 60 s.h. and has a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Preference will be given to students who have documented community service and/or involvement in university activities. Financial need is a consideration. The scholarship is renewable if the recipient maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better and reapplies to the School of Agriculture.  

John "DOC" Reeves Urban Forestry Scholarship

One award divided between the fall and spring semesters to a full-time junior or senior Agriculture major with a specialization in urban forestry or any major with a minor in urban forestry. The applicant must have completed FOR 208 and have a GPA of 3.0. The scholarship is renewable if the recipient maintains a GPA of 3.0 or better and reapplies to the School of Agriculture. 

Clarence E. Neff Memorial Scholarship

One award to a junior, senior or transfer student majoring in agriculture divided between the fall and spring semesters. Student must have GPA of 3.25 or better and reside in the 17th Congressional District. Financial need will be considered. The scholarship is renewable if the recipient maintains a GPA of 3.25 or better and reapplies to the School of Agriculture. 

Dr. Ken Nimrick Scholarship

One award to an Ag major pursuing a career in animal science, as explained in essay. Undergraduate with 60+ credit hours earned at time of disbursement. Minimum GPA of 3.0. Must submit resume with application. Preference will be given to student interested in beef and/or grass/forage management. US Citizen. Demonstrated leadership and community service will be considered. 

Dr. Loren K. Robinson Scholarship

One scholarship may be awarded annually, divided between the fall & spring semesters. Available to  entering freshmen who plan to pursue a major in the field of animal science. Applicants must be residents of Illinois & possess a minimum ACT of 20. This scholarship is not renewable. 

Dr. James Wehrly Agricultural Finance Scholarship

Up to four awards divided between the fall and spring semesters to a junior in good standing at the  time the award is disbursed who has a GPA of 3.25. Applicants can be undergraduate or graduate students  who are interested in Ag Business with priority given to a student interested in Ag Finance. Preference is given  to an undergraduate student. Graduate students may be considered if there are no eligible undergraduate  students. This scholarship is renewable at the discretion of the Department of Agriculture. Student must be  making satisfactory progress.  

West Central FS Scholarship

Five awards divided between the fall and spring semesters to Ag majors. Students must be enrolled at Western Illinois University, majoring in a discipline housed in the School of Agriculture, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all complete coursework. Entering freshmen applicants must have an ACT of 25. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate initiative in the classroom and/or attendance at extracurricular events. Applicants must be a citizen of the United States and be willing to be interviewed on WIU's campus by West Central FS representatives at a date and time to be announced following submission of the application. Students may reapply but it is not guaranteed that they will be chosen.

Dr. Kenneth & Betty Wright Pre-Veterinarian Scholarship

One award divided between fall and spring semesters for an entering freshman enrolled in the Pre-Vet Professional Program. Student must have graduated from a high school in downstate Illinois with a minimum high school GPA of 3.0. Preference will be given to students with a background in FFA and/or 4-H. This scholarship is renewable. 

Henry Taylor & Lorraine Steinberg Endowed Scholarship

One scholarship for a full-time incoming freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in Agriculture. Minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA. Incoming Freshman must submit a brief statement of where the applicant has been in life, where they are now and where they would like to be in the future and the applicant’s
motivation for pursuing a career in agriculture. Preference given to and not limited to female students, students with financial need and
students actively involved with Agriculture Mechanization and/or Precision Agriculture. This scholarship is renewable. 

Wayne Whipps Agriculture Scholarship

One scholarship divided between the fall and spring semesters to be awarded to an incoming freshman, incoming transfer, or returning student who has declared as an Agriculture major, with the following preferences in order of priority: 1) Incoming freshman from Unity High School-Mendon, IL, 2) Transfer from John Wood Community College, 3) Incoming freshman who is a resident of Adams County, IL. If there is no eligible candidate, the scholarship money will roll over and be awarded the following year. This scholarship is not renewable. 

Frank Beckman Scholarship

Two scholarships divided between the fall and spring semesters to be awarded to an incoming freshman majoring in Agriculture. Preference will be given to students with financial need. This scholarship is not renewable. 

Midwest Ag Scholarship

The Midwest Ag Scholarship Foundation committee presents a scholarship to a Western Illinois University agriculture major each year. All agriculture majors who are enrolled in classes for the Spring semester are eligible to apply. Application Deadline is December 1st, 2024. Apply here.

Talent Grant and Tuition Waivers

The School of Agriculture at WIU has available several Talent Grants and Tuition Waivers for persons with demonstrated competency in the area of livestock judging. Contact Dr. Mark Hoge, Livestock Judging Coach, at MD-Hoge@wiu.edu for information regarding eligibility and availability.

College of Business and Technology (CBT) Scholarships

All agriculture and College of Business and Technology Scholarships can be found through the WIU Scholarship Portal below.