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.
14 cooperative scholarships totaling $49,733 were awarded for the 2024-2025 academic year, ranging from $1,900 to full tuition and fees for 15 credit hours for two semesters The ACCC has awarded 468 scholarships totaling $1,112,405 on behalf of the cooperative community since 1985. 1985-2024 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.
2024-25 Recipient:
Lane Klepper of Ellinwood, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics. Co-op connections: American Plains Cooperative, Ark Valley Electric Cooperative, Central Prairie Cooperative, MKC and Midwest Energy
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.
2024-2025 Recipient:
Coy Stamm of Washington, Kansas, a junior in agronomy. Co-op connections: Bluestem Electric, Cloud County Cooperative Association, CVA and Farmers Cooperative
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).
2024-25 Recipient:
Madeline Drake of Preston, Kansas, a junior in agricultural communications. Co-op connections: American Ag Credit and Kanza Cooperative Association
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).
2024-25 Recipient:
Emma (Thorpe) Meyer of Athol, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics and global food systems leadership. Co-op connections: Kanza Cooperative, Prairieland Electric and Trinity Ag, LLC
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.
2024-25 Recipients:
Maci Behrnes of Horton, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connection: CVA
Hannah Cryer of Wichita, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connection: 1st Water District
Rheo Dykstra of Chappell, Nebraska. Co-op connection: Frenchman Valley Co-op and Select Sires
CHS Foundation Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to ten outstanding students 7 of whom 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.
2024-25 Recipients:
Stephanie Atkinson of Huntington, Indiana, a senior in agribusiness.
Korben Clawson of Meade, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics and animal science and industry. Co-op connections: Alliance Ag, CMS Electric Co-op, DFA, MKC, Pioneer Electric Cooperative and Tri-County Electric Cooperative.
James DeRouchey of Wamego, Kansas, a junior in agribusiness. Co-op connection: Bluestem Electric Cooperative.
Jayla Johnson of St. Mary's, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connection: CVA
Kash Liddeke of Norwich, Kansas, a senior in agricultural economics. Co-op connections: Farmers Cooperative Grain Association and Sumner-County Electric Co-op
Hannah Macke of Baileyville, Kansas, a senior in agribusiness. Co-op connections: Ag Partners Cooperative, Blue Valley Technologies and Nemaha-Marshall Electric Co-op
Grace Walenta of Peoria, Illinois, a senior in agricultural economics. Co-op connection: CEFCU
Three freshmen were also awarded CHS Foundation Scholarships through the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University:
Hanna Bailey of Girard, Kansas, a freshman in animal sciences and industry.
Brooke Hilgenkamp of Arlington, Nebraska, a freshman in animal sciences and industry.
Seth Meyer of Bern, Kansas, a freshman in animal sciences and industry.
For information about the eligibility requirements and the application and selection processes, please contact Seleise Barrett, ACCC Managing Director.