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Texas Agriculture Archive

September 20, 2002

TFB scholarship
winners announced

Dick Mitchell Scholarship

Teri Lynn Windham of Baird, a 2002 graduate of Baird High School, is the 2002 recipient of the $1,000 Dick Mitchell Scholarship and a $1,000 college scholarship by Dodge Division and Hanner Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge-Jeep-Eagle, Inc. She is the daughter of Tom and Jan Windham, members of the Callahan-Shackelford CFB.

Windham plans to attend Texas A&M University in the fall, where she will pursue pre-veterinary studies.

A member of Baird FFA Chapter and Area IV FFA Vice President, Windham has earned many FFA awards and has been active in 4-H and dairy cattle judging. An accomplished equestrian, Windham's goal is to start her own veterinary clinic in a small farming and ranching community and raise horses and cattle.

The Dick Mitchell Scholarship, started in 1991 in memory of former field representative and Field Services Director Dick Mitchell, is an academic scholarship awarded annually. Applicants must have attended the TFB Citizenship Seminar in order to be eligible. Forty-five applications were received in 2002.

TFB Agriculture Research and Education Foundation Scholarships

The Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation recently awarded two $4,000 scholarships ($1,000 per year for four years). Recipients selected from a field of 183 applicants were Sarah Burgess of Coldspring (San Jacinto County) and Melinda Mamerow, El Campo (Wharton County).

Burgess, the daughter of F. William and Catherine Burgess, was valedictorian of the 2002 Coldspring/Oakhurst High School graduating class. She has earned numerous awards through Science Fair, UIL and various community activities on the district, state and national levels. Burgess served as vice president and president of the Student Council, president of the National Honor Society (and NHS national scholarship nominee), and was class president all four of her high school years. She was also captain of the varsity volleyball and tennis teams her senior year and still found time for religious and volunteer work.

Burgess plans to attend Texas A&M-Galveston where she will major in marine biology. Her goal is to further her education, attain a Ph.D in order to teach and perhaps found or work for a marine-mammal science institution, focusing on dolphins.

Mamerow, the daughter of Ronnie and Patricia Mamerow, is a graduate of Louise High School, Louise, where she was an officer and leader in FFA, NHS, Student Council, Band Council, Hillje-Louise 4-H and other organizations. Mamerow competed in varsity sports, including cross country, basketball, power-lifting, track and twirling.

Mamerow was a Wendy's Heisman High Top 20 State Finalist, DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Good Citizen Award and Outstanding Student of America Award winner in 2002, with numerous other awards and achievements throughout her high school years. Mamerow was the 2001 Wharton County Farm Bureau queen and District 11 winner.

Mamerow plans to use the scholarship at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with plans to become a Registered Nurse (RN). She wants to obtain a Masters Degree of Science in Nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner or a Charge Nurse. The young woman hopes to use her knowledge in a leadership capacity to help solve health care issues facing the rural and coastal areas of the state.

Texas Farm Bureau Agriculture Research and Education Foundation scholarships are awarded on the basis of, but not limited to: high school grades/gpa, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, family financial need, and potential to succeed to post secondary educational goals.

For more information, contact your county Farm Bureau, visit the TFB website (www.txfb.org); or call Si Cook, Foundation coordinator, at 254/751-2286.

YF&R Scholarships

Justin Holloway

Timothy Bobo

Jordan Shipp

Melissa Harrison

Nathan Roberson

The Young Farmer & Rancher Advisory Committee recently announced the winners of this year's scholarships.

Four $2,000 scholarships were awarded to students from Texas Farm Bureau-member families who were 2002 high school graduates and intend to pursue degrees in the field of agriculture.

Recipients include: Timothy Bobo of Fredericksburg (a member in Jim Wells County); Jordan Shipp of Big Sandy (Upshur County); Melissa Harrison of Waller (Waller County); and Nathan Roberson of Devine (Medina County).

Justin Holloway of Abilene (Taylor County) became the first-ever recipient of a YF&R scholarship presented to an agriculture student who is already enrolled in college. This new YF&R scholarship is worth $1,000 and is awarded to a student who has at least 45 hours of college credit.

"All of the scholarships are funded by the YF&R Advisory Committee through fund raising activities such as the silent auction at our Texas Farm Bureau annual meeting," said Si Cook, TFB organization programs director, who coordinates the YF&R activities.

According to Cook, winners are "the cream of the crop."

YF&R scholarships are awarded in increments of $500 per semester for four semesters.

AFBF/Monsanto Scholarships

Monsanto Company and the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture recently awarded 100 high school seniors across the country $1,500 scholarships through the 2002 Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship program.

The Commitment to Agriculture Scholarship program was open to high school seniors from all 50 states planning to pursue a career in the field of agriculture.

The scholarships were offered by Monsanto in association with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture.

This year's award recipients were chosen by an impartial selection committee of agricultural educators and industry leaders.

Texans awarded scholarships were: Jana Perry, Lampasas; Julie Weathers, Lubbock; Nikki Hefley, McLean; David Kaddatz, Mertens; Hannah Boedeker, Quitaque; John Klostermann, Raymondville; Lindsey Pardee, Shepherd; Bristi Arnold, Spur; Juan Gonzales, Stamford; Shelby Smith, Stephenville; Keaton Askew, Tahoka; and Stephanie Jeter, Troy.

Winning a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Free Enterprise
Speech Contest were (left to right) Kara Detro, Tyler Throbald, Laura Moerbe, John Jambers, Jurahee Jones and Larry Watson.

Free Enterprise winner,
finalists go to Washington
The winner and finalists in the 2001 Free Enterprise Speech Contest, an annual scholarship contest sponsored by the Texas Farm Bureau to encourage knowledge of the free enterprise system, recently visited the nation's Capital.

While in Washington, D.C., the youths had opportunities to tour the Capitol, the Supreme Court Building, Library of Congress, National Arboretum, American Farm Bureau Federation offices and Union Station. One evening, they dined with TFB President Donald Patman.

They also attended a play at the Kennedy Center. Three members of the delegation were on the South Lawn, July 17, when President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcomed President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and his wife, Jolanta Kwasniewski, during the State Arrival Ceremony.