WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue agriculture career paths. The application deadline is March 1, 2024.
Young people are invited to complete and submit their applications online through an e-application. Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.
“The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program helps to create a pipeline of skilled employees for USDA and the United States agriculture sector,” said Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement Director Lisa Ramirez. “By introducing young people to the array of needs and priorities in food, agriculture and natural resources, the program supports USDA’s efforts to provide career opportunities for the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture.”
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 historically Black landgrant universities that were established in the Morrill Land Grand Act of 1890. USDA partners with these 1890 universities to provide scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree.