SSC and ISA to award 15 scholarships; Hope to help students facing COVID related financial hardships

The Iowa State University (ISU) Seed Science Center (SSC) and Iowa Seed Association (ISA) are accepting applications for 15 scholarships, which is an increase in the number of awards from previous years.  Twelve ISA scholarships of $1,000 each will be awarded along with the $1,000 Bill Latham Memorial Scholarship and the $1,000 Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship.  The Manjit Misra Outstanding Senior Scholar will also receive an additional $500.  The deadline to apply is extended to January 27, 2021, to give students more time to put together applications. 2020 ISA Scholarship Winners pictured left. 

    “The Seed Science Center is excited to help fund these scholarships for ISU students,”  said Manjit Misra, Director of the Seed Science Center.  “We realize the financial hardships the students may be facing due to COVID and hope this will help relieve some of the financial stress they may be experiencing.”                                                

   Bill Latham was a former president of the Iowa Seed Association, the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), the Independent Professional Seed Association (IPSA), and was a former President of his family company, Latham Seed.  Bill passed away on July 31, 2015.

    The ISU Seed Science Center awards the Lisa Shepherd Jenkins Memorial Scholarship to an undergraduate student engaged in seed science and seed technology. This scholarship honors Lisa Shepherd Jenkins, who served as Seed Health Testing Coordinator for the Seed Science Center and as the Co-Director of the Administrative Unit of the National Seed Health System. Lisa headed one of the most active phytosanitary seed testing programs in the country. She also served as a chair on committees for both ASTA and the American Phytopathological Society.  Lisa passed away on July 1, 2015.  Professor Susana Goggi, who worked closely with Lisa, says this scholarship is very special to everyone at the Seed Science Center.  

    “Lisa was an important member of our professional family who was taken away from us at a very early age,” said Susana. “She was a brilliant young woman who knew the importance of science-based testing and providing seed industry service through accurate and timely results. This scholarship rewards students interested in research and service, two of Lisa's lifetime commitments.”

The  ISA scholarships will be open to students in any major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (including Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering) with a demonstrated interest in seed science or in a career related to the seed industry.  The scholarships are awarded on the bases of four criteria:

  1. Academic excellence,
  2. Leadership skills,
  3. Interpersonal skills
  4. Demonstrated interest in the seed industry or seed science.

 

The application can be found at seeds.iastate.edu