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USDA 1890 National Scholars Program

Application DEADLINE Wednesday, January 31, 2017

Please Note: Only the 2017 application, which includes a revision date of November 2015 in the bottom right corner, will be considered. Previous versions of this application will not be considered.


Program Overview

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is implemented under the USDA Fellows Experience Program (FEP). Scholars accepted into the program will be appointed using the Schedule A(r) authority (5 CFR 213.3202) and are not eligible for noncompetitive conversion to full time employment upon graduation.

However, all USDA/1890 National Scholars are required to compete for appropriate employment immediately after graduation and, if selected, commit to at least one year of service to USDA for each year of financial assistance provided. (Note: Specific details of this service requirement will be outlined in the service agreement entered into by the selected Scholar, the University at which the Scholar is matriculated, and the USDA Sponsoring Agency.)

The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program will provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits, fees, books, and room and board each year for up to 4 years to selected students pursuing a bachelor's degree at the following universities:

  • Alabama A&M University
  • Alcorn State University, Mississippi
  • Central State University, Ohio
  • Delaware State University
  • Florida A&M University
  • Fort Valley State University, Georgia
  • Kentucky State University
  • Langston University, Oklahoma
  • Lincoln University, Missouri
  • North Carolina A&T State University
  • Prairie View A&M University, Texas
  • South Carolina State University
  • Southern University, Louisiana
  • Tennessee State University
  • Tuskegee University, Alabama
  • University of Arkansas Pine Bluff
  • University of Maryland Eastern Shore
  • Virginia State University
  • West Virginia State University

Goal

The goal of the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is to increase the number of minorities studying agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, and the related disciplines. National Scholars are required to study in the following or related disciplines.

  • Agriculture
  • Agricultural Business/Management
  • Agricultural Economics
  • Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics
  • Agricultural Production and Technology
  • Agronomy or Crop Science
  • Animal Sciences
  • Botany
  • Food Sciences/Technology
  • Forestry and Related Sciences
  • Home Economics/Nutrition
  • Horticulture
  • Natural Resources Management
  • Soil Conservation/Soil Science
  • Farm and Range Management
  • Other related disciplines, (e.g. non-medical biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science)

The Award
Scholarships are awarded annually and must be used at one of the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities. Each award provides full tuition, as well as room and board, for the term of the scholarship. The scholarship may be renewed each year, contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and normal progress toward the bachelor's degree.

General Eligibility
To be eligible for the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program scholarship a student must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale)
  • Have been accepted for admission or currently attending one of the nineteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities.
  • Study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or other related academic disciplines
  • Demonstrate leadership and community service
  • Submit an official transcript with the school seal and an authorized official's signature
  • Submit a signed application (original signature only)

Who Should Apply
The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is available to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college and rising college sophomores and juniors.

 

USDA 1890 National Scholars Program 2017 Application DEADLINE: Wednesday, January 31, 2017

All application materials must be postmarked by Wednesday, January 31, 2017, and sent to the university (or universities) selected by the applicant to attend. (University addresses and contact information are included in the back of the application.)

For any questions regarding the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, please contact:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration
Office of Advocacy and Outreach
USDA/1890 Programs
1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Stop 0170
Washington, DC 20250
Telephone Number: (202) 720-6350
Fax Number: (202) 720-7136
Email: 1890init@usda.gov