The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association is pleased to be able to offer Rudolph Grob Memorial Scholarships each year to students pursuing higher education. For 2021 three scholarships were given as follows:
Clayton Harner – Penn State University, $1,300
Clayton is the son of Chris Harner and Tarrah Geszvain of State College. He is a freshman at Penn State University majoring in Agricultural Science with the goal of understanding what is necessary to successfully run a business in the agricultural field and possibly have a role in cooperative extension.
Reagan Kelley – Mansfield University, $1,300
Reagan is the daughter of Curtis and Tresa Kelley of Canton. She is a freshman at Mansfield University majoring in Environmental Science with the goal of working at a conservation district office working with farmers on conservation issues. She works on the family’s orchard where they grow apples, pumpkins, potatoes, tomatoes, raspberries, and blackberries. They sell additional produce and plants and flowers at their farm market. She also hopes to expand her herd of dairy goats.
Wyatt Kosa – University of Northwest Ohio, $1,000
Wyatt is the son of Joel and Darla Kosa of Ulysses. He is a student at the University of Northwestern Ohio majoring in Agricultural Equipment Tech and Medium/Heavy Diesel Technologies. He is working towards obtaining two associate degrees with a goal of becoming an agricultural mechanicial technician in his home area of northern Pennsylvania.
The Association gives the annual scholarships in memory of Rudolph Grob of Millersville who served the Association for 50 years as a Director, 20 years as Secretary Treasurer and for over 20 years as manager of the Association’s Farm Show Booth. Mr. Grob was a horticulture graduate of Penn State University who was employed for many years at Funks Farm Market in Millersville. The funds for the scholarships are generated by the interest earned by the Association’s Keystone Fund, an endowment-type fund created by the voluntary extra dues paid the Keystone Members of the Association.
The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students in obtaining a baccalaureate or associate degree that will enable them to pursue a career in the vegetable, potato or berry production or related industries or businesses. Children or grandchildren of an Association member who has been a member in good standing for one or more years and who are pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field may also be considered.
Preference will be given first to children or grandchildren of Association members who are pursuing career in the vegetable, potato or berry production or related industries or businesses. Second preference will be given to non-member students who are pursuing a career in the vegetable, potato or berry production or related industries or businesses. Last preference will be given to children or grandchildren of members who are pursuing a degree in an agriculture-related field but not necessarily in the vegetable, potato or berry industries.
Applicants must be currently enrolled or be planning to enroll in a two-year associate or four-year baccalaureate degree program at an accredited institution and be in good academic standing.
About $4,000 in scholarships will be available in 2022. Funds that are not awarded in any year are held over to be added to the amount available in subsequent years. The committee may award scholarships of up to $2,000. Recipients may apply for a renewal although preference will be given to other qualified students over previous recipients. It is not a need-based scholarship.
The following items must be included with a completed application form:
- A copy of the most recent academic transcript.
- Two letters of reference from someone outside of the immediate family.
- A typed essay (approximately 500 words) on one of the following topics:
- Describe the biggest issue that has faced the Vegetable/Potato/Berry Industry in Pennsylvania in the last five years or that the Industry will face in the next five years and how you plan to deal with this issue in your future career, or
- Describe your previous experiences with the Vegetable/Potato/Berry Industry and the role you hope to play in the Pennsylvania Vegetable/Potato/Berry Industry upon graduation.
- Describe your previous experiences in agriculture and the role you hope to play in agriculture upon graduation.
Applications must be received or postmarked by May 15, 2022. The application is available here. The scholarship committee may request to interview the applicant in person or by telephone as well as contact college or school advisors and/or references. If you have a child or grandchild in college who would be eligible, encourage them to apply for the scholarships.