Cooperative Scholarships

ACCC Cooperative Scholarships

As part of our mission to promote the development of and education about cooperatives, the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center (ACCC) awards several types of cooperative scholarships to undergraduate students at Kansas State University.

To apply for the ACCC Cooperative Scholarships, the first step for continuing students is to update your K-State Scholarship Network (KSN) profile/general application by March 15th. There are questions pertaining to the cooperative scholarships including membership connections to cooperatives (including agricultural, farm credit, credit union, rural electric and rural telephone cooperatives) in the College of Agriculture section. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be invited to apply for the cooperative scholarships. More information, including eligibility requirements, on each scholarship currently offered is listed below. Note: We do not currently offer any scholarships to incoming Freshmen through our committee but three CHS Foundation Scholarships are offered to incoming Freshman through K-State's College of Agriculture scholarship awards process.

15 cooperative scholarships totaling $49,542 were awarded for the 2023-2024 academic year, ranging from $1,900 to full tuition and fees for 15 credit hours for two semesters The ACCC has awarded 439 scholarships totaling $1,062,672 on behalf of the cooperative community since 1985. 1985-2023 Cooperative Scholarships Award Summary

David and Susan Barton Cooperative Leadership Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to one or more outstanding students who meet three minimum eligibility requirements: (1) properly enrolled as a junior or senior in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University pursuing a degree in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics during the academic year the scholarship is awarded, (2) strong academic performance during at least two semesters at Kansas State University with a cumulative grade point average at Kansas State University of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and (3) is affiliated with a marketing, supply, or service company operating on a cooperative basis in the United States (including agricultural, farm credit, credit union, rural electric and rural telephone cooperatives) Affiliation with a cooperative includes being a member or employee of a cooperative or a spouse, child or dependent of a member or employee of a cooperative. Preference will be given to eligible candidates who demonstrate leadership potential, achievement or performance on the following three factors: (1) strong leadership development experience, (2) preparation and planning for a career that includes being a leader of a business in an executive, manager or board member position, and (3) appreciation and understanding of the cooperative business model.

2023-24 Recipients:
Liberty Thompson of Elkton, South Dakota, a senior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership. Co-op connections: AgFirst Farmers Cooperative, Chandler Co-op, CHS Brandon, Dakotaland Federal Credit Union, Farmer’s Co-op Elevator Company, GENEX, ITC, River’s Edge Cooperative, Sinai Co-op Elevator Co., Sioux Valley Energy and Thrivent Credit Union. Liberty also completed internships with CoBank and Frontier Farm Credit.

Baylee Wulfkuhle of Lawrence, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership. Co-op connections: Free State Electric Cooperative, Frontier Farm Credit and KEPCO. Baylee completed an internship with Frontier Farm Credit and her dad serves as a director on the Free State Electric Cooperative and KEPCO boards. He previously served on the Frontier Farm Credit board.

Press Release
Barton Scholarship 2021-2022

Matthew Kent Stamper Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to one outstanding student who (1) is properly enrolled as a junior or senior in the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University during the year the scholarship is awarded. Other criteria to be met is affiliation with a Kansas marketing, supply, or service cooperative (including agricultural, farm credit, credit union, rural electric and rural telephone cooperatives) that is a member of the Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC). Affiliation with a cooperative includes being a member or employee of a cooperative or a spouse, child or dependent of a member or employee of a cooperative. Among the eligible candidates, preference will be given to students who (1) are enrolled in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Department of Animal Sciences and Industry or Department of Agronomy and (2) are from Northwest or North Central Kansas, especially Rooks County or the surrounding counties of Phillips, Smith, Osborne, Russell, Ellis, Trego, Graham and Norton and (3) are interested in pursuing a career in production agriculture.

2023-24 Recipient:
Jarek Meyer of Athol, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics. Co-op connections: AgMark LLC, High Plains Farm Credit, Midway Cooperative, Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative and Trinity Ag, LLC.

Press Release
Stamper Scholarship

Otis and Mary Lee Molz Cooperative Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to one outstanding student who (1) is properly enrolled as a Kansas resident junior or senior in the College of Agriculture during the academic year the scholarship is used and (2) is affiliated with a Kansas marketing, supply, or service cooperative (including agricultural, farm credit, credit union, rural electric and rural telephone cooperatives) that is a member of the Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC), and (3) can demonstrate current financial need by completing the standard financial information forms used at Kansas State University. Affiliation with a cooperative includes being a member or employee of a cooperative or a spouse, child or dependent of a member or employee of a cooperative. Preference will be given to students who (1) have financial need, (2) have demonstrated strong academic performance during their previous college coursework and activities, and (3) are preparing for and planning a career that includes being an agricultural producer or working as an employee of a cooperative, cooperative related business or a service provider to cooperatives (e.g., law firms and auditing firms).

2023-24 Recipient:
Garrett Korte of Latham, Kansas, a senior majoring in agribusiness. Co-op connections: American AgCredit, Frontier Farm Credit and MKC.

Press Release
Press Release

Joseph Lieber Memorial Cooperative Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to one outstanding student who (1) is properly enrolled as a junior or senior in the College of Agriculture during the academic year the scholarship is used and (2) is affiliated with a Kansas marketing, supply, or service cooperative (including agricultural, farm credit, credit union, rural electric and rural telephone cooperatives) that is a member of the Kansas Cooperative Council (KCC). Preference will be given to students who (1) demonstrate financial need by completing the standard financial aid information forms used at Kansas State University, (2) have a strong academic performance record during their years of college, and (3) are planning a career that includes being an agricultural producer, or working as an employee of a cooperative, cooperative related business or a service provider to cooperatives (e.g., law firms and auditing firms).

2023-24 Recipient:
Lane Klepper of Ellinwood, Kansas, a junior in agricultural economics. Co-op connections: American Plains Cooperative, Central Prairie Cooperative and MKC.

Press Release
Lieber Scholarship

CoBank Outstanding Student Scholarship: The scholarship will be awarded to three outstanding students who (1) are properly enrolled as a sophomore, junior or senior in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the College of Agriculture during the academic year the scholarship is used and (2) has exhibited academic excellence. Preference will be given to students who (1) are studying agricultural economics or agribusiness studying finance, economics or banking and (2) are residents in the following states: CA, CO, CT, IA, KS, KY, MO, MN, NE and TX. Recipients of the CoBank Scholarship in their sophomore or junior year may apply for an internship at CoBank and graduating seniors may contact CoBank Recruiting to discuss potential employment opportunities.

2023-24 Recipients:
Hannah Cryer of Wichita, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness. Co-op Connection: Butler Electric Cooperative.

Piper Schlatter of Hutchinson, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op Connections: Heartland Credit Union, High Plains Farm Credit and Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative. Piper completed an internship with American AgCredit and will be joining their team after graduation.

Caleb Stout of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics, pre-law and global food systems leadership. Co-op Connections: Flint Hills Rural Electric Cooperative and Frontier Farm Credit.

Press Release
CoBank Scholarship

CHS Foundation Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to ten outstanding students who are properly enrolled as a sophomore, junior or senior during the academic year the scholarship is used and are working towards an agricultural-related degree or STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degree and who demonstrate academic aptitude. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident of the U.S. or in the U.S. lawfully on a non-temporary basis. This scholarship program encourages students to pursue careers in production agriculture, agriculture business or related STEM fields. Recipients shall NOT be selected based on financial need. Recipients are able to receive the award multiple times. Recipients should exhibit leadership qualities through university, community or ag industry involvement. Priority will be given to students demonstrating an interest in agriculture based cooperatives.

2023-24 Recipients:
Trent Beier of Clifton, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness. Co-op connections: CVA, Cloud County Cooperative Elevator, Blue Valley Technologies and Farm Credit.

Riley Buss of Grantville, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics and mathematics. Co-op connections: AgMark LLC, Cloud County Cooperative Elevator, Free State Electric Cooperative and Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative.

Courtney Clinesmith of Cimarron, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness. Co-op connections: Credit Union of Dodge City and United Telephone Association.

James DeRouchey of Wamego, Kansas, a sophomore in agribusiness. Co-op connection: Bluestem Electric Cooperative.

Cody Fosket of Mitchell, Nebraska, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connections: Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company, Panhandle Cooperative Association and WESTCO. Cody completed an internship with LeRoy Cooperative Association.

Mollie Reno of Cheney, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connections: Farm Credit Services of America and Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company. Mollie worked for Farmers Co-op Elevator Company in Cheney and interned with CoMark Equity Alliance.

Emma Thorpe of Andale, Kansas, a junior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership. Emma worked for Kanza Cooperative and interned with Trinity Ag, LLC.

Three freshmen were also awarded CHS Foundation Scholarships through the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University:
Grace Allee of Arcadia, Indiana, a freshman in agricultural communications and journalism.
Dillon Mai of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, a freshman in agricultural economics.
Reagan Richards of Avon Park, Florida, a freshman in agricultural communications and journalism.

Press Release
CHS Foundation Scholarship

For information about the eligibility requirements and the application and selection processes, please contact Seleise Barrett, ACCC Managing Director.