The Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association is pleased to able to offer two Rudolph Grob Memorial Scholarships each year students pursuing higher education.  This year three scholarships were given as follows:

Clayton Harner, Penn State University, $1,500

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 being a vegetable grower.

Wyatt Kosa, University of Northwest Ohio, $1,500

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 with a goal of becoming a farm equipment mechanic.

Nicole Guise, Penn State University, $1,000

Nicole is the daughter of Amy and Denton Guise of Spring Grove.  She is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Agricultural and Extension Education with the goal of becoming a Secondary Agriscience Educator. 

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 a portion of 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 necessarily in the vegetable, potato or berry industries. 

Applicants 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.

The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to two students for a one-year period although if funds are available and there are not other qualified applicants, the committee may award $2,000 scholarships.  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 April 30, 2021, and are available by contacting PVGA at 717-694-3596 or pvga@pvga.org. The application is also available on the website at https://www.pvga.org/services/rudolph-grob-memorial-scholarship/. 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, encourage them to apply for the scholarships.