West Virginia State University Expands Degree Options, Scholarship Funding for Agriculture Programs

7/12/2021

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Contact: Jack Bailey
(304) 766-4109
jbaile19@wvstateu.edu
     
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) is expanding its educational opportunities in food, agriculture and natural resources with increased scholarship funding and additional degree opportunities for students interested in agricultural careers.

Through the federally funded 1890 Scholarship Program, scholarships are available to eligible students majoring in the following programs at WVSU:

• Bachelor of Science in Biology: Option in Plant-Soil Science
• Bachelor of Science in Chemistry: Option in Applied Chemistry
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Concentration in Agribusiness
• Bachelor of Arts in Economics: Concentration in Agricultural Economics

WVSU began receiving scholarship funding last year, along with the nation’s 18 other 1890 land-grant institutions. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee introduced legislation making the 1890 Scholarship Program permanent, with a $100 million funding increase.

WVSU President Dr. Nicole Pride was among the 1890 university presidents to address the House Agriculture Committee and express the importance of making the funding permanent.

“At West Virginia State University, we are investing the resources provided through the 1890 Scholarship Program to prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders in agribusiness, local food ecosystems, and food security to help our state and country meet the opportunities of the 21st century,” Pride said.

Funded by Congress and administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the scholarships are intended to encourage outstanding students at 1890 institutions to pursue and complete baccalaureate degrees in the food and agricultural sciences and related fields. By developing a highly skilled workforce, the 1890 Scholarships Program helps facilitate rural prosperity and economic development aligning with USDA’s strategic goals.

Full and partial scholarships are provided to successful applicants that include support for such costs as tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and meals.
           
To learn more and apply, visit wvstateu.edu/1890ScholarshipProgram.
           
WVSU’s 1890 Scholarships Program is supported by USDA NIFA Award No. 2020-38430-31313.
           
Follow West Virginia State University on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @WVStateU.
 
West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi‐generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.