FCA Foundation Selects 2016 National Black Farmers Association Scholarship Winners

Scholarships cultivate a new era of black farmers
Sep 12, 2016 11:00 AM ET

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., September 12, 2016 /3BL Media/ - The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, and the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) today announced recipients of the National Black Farmers Association Scholarship. The 2016 class of 21 students, who represent the promise of a new generation of black farmers, will receive $100,000 in scholarships that will help them pursue agriculture-related college degrees.
 
“It is a privilege to support these remarkable young people as they pursue higher education,” said Lesley Slavitt, Head of Civic Engagement, FCA US LLC, and CEO of the FCA Foundation. “Through advanced study these students will undoubtedly acquire the skills and knowledge to ensure they are transformational leaders who successfully address the challenges confronting food security.” 

2016 National Black Farmers Association Scholarship Recipients

Student

Hometown, State

Educational Institution

Major

Demetrius K. Arnold

Fayetteville, Ark.

University of Arkansas

Agricultural Systems
Technology Management

L'Quaan C.  Atkinson

Greensboro, N.C.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Agricultural Education

Ali Austin

Tuskegee, Ala.

Tuskegee University

Agribusiness

Anthony D. Bland

Starkville, Miss.

Mississippi State University

Agribusiness / Accounting

Cameron Bradshaw

Manhattan, Kan.

Kansas State University

Agribusiness

Candace Clark

Tuskegee, Ala.

Tuskegee University

Agribusiness

Ariel K. Demotte-Carter

College Station, TX

Texas A&M University

Food Science

Edra Fisher*

Springfield, Ill.

Lincoln Land Community College

Agriculture

Isabella G. Fisher*

Springfield, Ill.

Lincoln Land Community College

Biology / Holistic Nutrition

Gabrielle Galvan

San Luis Obispo, Calif.

California Polytechnic State University

Animal Science

Aaron Gauff

Belleville, Ill.

Lindenwood University

Biology

Taylor Gauff

Dover, Del.

Delaware State University

Veterinary Science

Peyton Greenwood

Tuskegee, Ala.

Tuskegee University

Food Science

Charisma Heath

Fort Valley, Ga.

Fort Valley State University

Veterinary Science

Bryant A. Hunter

Prairie View, TX

Prairie View A&M University

Animal Science

Marquan Jones

Ithaca, N.Y.

Cornell University

Food Science

Aaron F. Lewis

Tuskegee, Ala.

Tuskegee University

Animal Science

Xavier Price

Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida A&M University

Ag-Science / Entomology

Logan R. Quinn

Corvallis, Ore.

Oregon State University

Breeding / Genetics

Danelle Solomon

Nashville, Tenn.

Tennessee State University

Agribusiness

Michael D. Walker

Baton Rouge, La.

Southern University and
A&M College

Agricultural Science

*Recipient of a $2,500 scholarship; all others received $5,000 scholarships

 

Scholarships of up to $5,000 each were awarded on a competitive basis to students pursuing agriculture-related study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school.
 
“The plight of the black farmers and the loss of black-owned farms have been a major issue for well over 100 years,” said John Boyd, Jr., President of the National Black Farmers Association. “In 1910, nearly 1 million black farm families owned over 15 million acres of land. Today, less than 45,000 black farm families own 3 million acres. The NBFA Scholarship program will begin to address black land loss.

“This year's recipients represent a new era of future farmers and agricultural leaders,” Boyd concluded.

Since 2015, the National Black Farmers Association Scholarship has awarded more than $180,000.

About the National Black Farmers Association
The National Black Farmers Association is a non-profit organization representing African-American farmers and their families in the United States. As an association, it serves tens of thousands of members nationwide. NBFA's education and advocacy efforts have been focused on civil rights, land retention, access to public and private loans, education and agricultural training and rural economic development for black and other small farmers.

About the FCA Foundation
The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, invests in charitable organizations and initiatives that help empower people, build strong, viable communities and generate meaningful and measurable societal impacts. 

Additionally, FCA US seeks opportunities to support communities through its Motor Citizens® volunteer program. This innovative program enables FCA US salaried employees to use 18 hours of paid time each year to be an Engine for Change by investing their time and talents in community service projects.

-###-

For more information, please visit the FCA US LLC media site at http://media.fcanorthamerica.com

Contact:
Kevin Frazier
FCA US LLC
(248) 512-2678 (office)
(248) 821-8507 (cell)
kevin.frazier@fcagroup.com

Dr. John Boyd, Jr.
National Black Farmers Association
(434) 210- 2286  (office)
JohnWesleyBoydJr@gmail.com