TOPSFIELD, February 22, 2024 – The scholarship application period is now open for university students looking to attend the industry-leading Women in Agribusiness (WIA) Summit, which will take place this year in Denver, September 24-26. The deadline to submit an application for a 2024 scholarship is Friday, May 31.
To qualify, applicants must be full-time junior or senior level undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral candidate students attending an accredited college or university who have shown a strong interest in developing a career in the agribusiness sector. Along with other benefits, scholarships defray the cost of registration for the three-day Summit and provide a connection to their corporate scholarship sponsor.
Scholarship benefits include:
Registration for the three-day Summit
Three nights shared lodging at a hotel (if needed)
Meals provided at the event
1-year WIA Membership; providing access to conference content and member directory
Student workshop event with industry executives
In keeping with the WIA mission to “to grow a professional community of women in agribusiness as they learn from one another, develop their career, and build beneficial relationships in the sector”, this scholarship program has welcomed more than 150 students since its inception in 2014. Students hail from colleges all over the country, including Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, Texas A&M University and Tennessee State University.
Olivia Redmond, a 2023 scholarship recipient who is currently a grain leadership trainee with Consolidated Grain and Barge (CGB), said “being a 2023 WIA scholar has greatly benefitted my professional development and career journey in the fact that I was able to meet a company at the conference for which I am now employed. Besides that, being surrounded by extremely successful women in a stereotypically male-dominated field was extremely inspiring and I walked away with a newfound confidence within myself for the future... I also was able to make so many amazing connections with my fellow scholars… Truly, my attendance to the WIA Summit has changed my life for the better.”
SPONSORING A STUDENT
Each year, nearly three dozen corporate sponsors step forward as WIA Student Scholarship sponsors to help bring this program to fruition. These companies have included the likes of ADM, CHS, John Deere Financial, ProAg, Wells Fargo, Wilbur-Ellis and more (see the 2023 list here).
This unique opportunity provides an enriching and exceptional experience for full-time agricultural students and highlights the commitment of these sponsors to developing the industry's future leaders through assisting in creating valuable industry connections and career opportunities, as well as access to up-to-the-minute industry knowledge.
Inquiries about student sponsorships should be sent to WIA Event Director Carrie Vita at cvita@womeninag.com.
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About Women in Agribusiness
The Women in Agribusiness Summit, introduced in 2012, is renowned for annually convening more than 1,000 female agribusiness professionals. WIA initiatives have grown to include WIA Membership, WIA MeetUps, WIA Demeter Award of Excellence, Scholarships, the WIA Career Connector and the WIA Today blog. Learn more at womeninag.com.
PR CONTACT: Michelle Pelletier Marshall
Senior PR/Media Manager
Women in Agribusiness
+1.978.790.0565