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Seven students awarded.

August 29, 2007

2 Min Read

The Michigan Corn Growers Association is proud to announce the recipients of the first annual MCGA Scholarship.

"This was the first time the MCGA sponsored a scholarship, so we were not sure what to expect as far as the number of applicants. When we received 15 scholarship applications and reviewed them, we were very excited about the high caliber of the students applying. We had to narrow the 15 down to seven for face to face interviews, which was no easy task," says Ed Breitmeyer, who is MCGA secretary and a corn grower from Buckley. Breitmeyer served on the selection committee with Tom Durand, MCGA treasurer and corn grower from Crosswell; and Jake Wamhoff a corn grower from East Lansing.

"After the students were interviewed, it was apparent to the other committee members, as well as myself, that we needed to go back to the full board and ask for additional funding to give away more scholarships than we originally planned. What started out as a $2,000 line item ended up being $4,500."

Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded MCGA scholarships for the 2007/2008 school year:

  • Amy Gerstacker, Midland- $1,000

  • Paul Windemuller, Zeeland- $1,000

  • Kala Belson, Pittsford- $500

  • Robert Reese, Lansing- $500

  • Emily Ries, Sand Creek- $500

  • Brenda Sisung, St. Johns- $500

  • Theresa Sisung, St. Johns- $500

The MCGA will recognize these students at its annual meeting set for Feb. 5, 2008, at the Radisson Hotel in Lansing.

"Honoring these students at the annual meeting will hopefully encourage them to become more involved with the MCGA on a local, state and national level," says Scott Miller, MCGA president and corn grower from Elsie. "The MCGA board of directors looks at this scholarship program as a way to give back to our members while promoting higher education and leadership opportunities for young adults."

All members of the MCGA, including students, growers and associates, as well as children of members are qualified to apply between the ages of 17-25. Applicants must be enrolled as full-time students at a post-secondary educational institution to be eligible. All applications for the 2008/2009 school year must be postmarked no later than Feb. 29, 2008. Applications can be obtained from the MCGA office by calling (517) 668-CORN (2676) or online at www.micorn.org.

Students in an accredited agricultural program are eligible for a one-year membership in the MCGA for $20. Grower and associate memberships in the MCGA are $60 for one-year, $155 for three-years, or $500 for a lifetime. Membership in the MCGA automatically makes you a member of the National Corn Growers Association. For more information, or if you would like to purchase a membership, please contact the MCGA office at (517) 668-2676.

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