Seven Bureau County students received financial assistance from the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation to help cover costs associated with continuing their education.  All were recognized at last month’s Beef and Ag Days celebration in Princeton.  Recieving the scholarships, left to right, are Cole Wright, Luke Schultz, Alexa Jacobs, Kathleen Smith and Kaitlyn Hildebrand. Not pictured are Schuyler Brazel and Chase Gripp. (Photo contributed)

PRINCETON – Seven Bureau County students received financial assistance from the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation to help cover costs associated with continuing their education. The Foundation Board of Directors has named Skyler Brazel of Tiskilwa, Chase Gripp of Sheffield, Kaitlyn Hildebrand of Ohio, Alexa Jacobs of Walnut, Luke Schultz of Princeton, Katie Smith of Walnut and Cole Wright of Bradford as the 2018 recipients of the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation Scholarships. 

For the past 23 years, the Bureau County Farm Bureau Foundation has made a financial commitment to assist individuals interested in pursuing a career in agriculture. To date, $84,250 has been provided in scholarships to individuals who are Bureau County Farm Bureau members or their dependents. The Foundation funding is supported by private contributions, including those from Bureau County Farm Bureau members.

Skyler Brazel, son of Carl Brazel, is currently attending the Iowa State University majoring in Horticultural Research and Global Resource Systems.

Chase Gripp, son of Chad and TeNeille Gripp, is finishing his freshman year at Purdue University. He is currently majoring in Agricultural Systems Management.   

Kaitlyn Hildebrand, daughter of Kevin and Susan Hildebrand, is completing her sophomore year at Illinois Central College majoring in Animal Science.  This fall she plans to attend Kansas State University.

Alexa Jacobs, daughter of Rod and Jennifer Jacobs, is finishing her freshman year at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.  She is currently majoring in Agricultural Education.

Luke Schultz, son of Karl and Beth Schultz, is finishing his freshman year at Black Hawk East.  He is currently majoring in Ag Business Management.    

Kathleen Smith, daughter of David and Janet Smith, is finishing her freshman year at Sauk Valley Community College.  She is working on her Agriculture Transfer degree.

Cole Wright, son of Todd and Joann Wright, is finishing his freshman year at Black Hawk East.  He is currently majoring in Crop Science/Ag Business.   

All of these students were extremely active in extracurricular activities with strong backgrounds in FFA, 4-H as well as Church and other school programs. The scholarship recipients formally received their awards at Princeton’s Beef and Ag Days Saturday, June 23.