The National FFA Organization and Foundation recently awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to 2,156 recipients. This was made possible thanks to the generosity made available by sponsors and individuals to reward and encourage excellence and enable students to pursue their educational goals.

More than 7,000 students applied for the scholarships, with many of the applicants being considered for multiple scholarships. Approximately one in every three who applied was awarded a scholarship. The scholarships available were for two-year or four-year degrees or vocational programs. The average recipient had a GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and were in the top 15 percent of their class.

This year marks the 31st year for the scholarship program, which began in 1984 with 16 scholarships being offered. In total, more than $41 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through the National FFA Organization.

The selection process takes into account the whole student – FFA involvement, work experience, supervised agricultural experience (SAE), community service, leadership skills and academics.