@TeachAgPSU #psuaged19 members National Award Winners!

Lisa Boltz

22 students from across the United States had received the Upper Division Scholarship from the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE). Their efforts in academic performance, leadership, service, and passion to become an agricultural educator has allowed them to qualify for this scholarship. Penn State has three students that were selected to receive this scholarship Lisa Boltz, Victoria Herr, and Ryan Rupert. Each of them will receive $1,500 to offset their expenses during their student teaching experience this spring.

Ryan Rupert

Since 2010 Penn State has submitted 27 applicants and had 20 national award winners, and this is the fourth year in a row that Penn State has had 100% of applicants receive this scholarship! The scholarship amount per student it $1,500, this represents $30,000 secured from NAAE since 2010 to advance our candidates' teacher education. Of our 20 national winners, 16 of them are currently teaching in high school programs.

Lisa Boltz will be student teaching at Dover Area High School, Victoria Herr will be student teaching at Penns Manor High School, and Ryan Rupert will be student teaching at Greenwood High School.

Victoria Herr

The funding for this scholarship came from Growth Energy, National Geographic Learning | Delmar Cengage Learning, and donations from Herman and Bobbie Wilson. Growth Energy as stated in their mission statement "represents the producers and supporters of ethanol, who feed the world and fuel America in ways that achieve energy independence, improve economic well-being, and create a healthier environment for all Americans now." National Geographic Learning is a part of Cengage Learning and they, "believe that an engaged and motivated learner will be a successful one, and they design our materials with a highly interactive storytelling approach which is a great way to invoke these connections."

The NAAE is a professional organization in mission to provide advancements to agricultural education, grow agricultural educators, recruit and prepare future agricultural educators that have a passion to teach. They provide their 7,800 members with resources that can be used inside the classroom as well as professional development through conferences and conventions. The mission of the NAAE is, "Professionals providing agricultural education for the global community through visionary leadership, advocacy and service."

Luke Kerstetter

Communications Team Member

Twitter Handle: @Luke_Kerstetter

2020 Agriculture Education Student Teacher