@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

Penn State's 2017 NAAE Upper Division Scholarship Winners

Angela Becker

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 Angela Becker, Allyson Balmer, and Rosalind Cowan. Each of them will receive $1,500 to offset their expenses during their student teaching experience this spring.

Allyson Balmer

Rosalind Cowan

Angela will be student teaching at Manheim Central High School in Manheim, PA, and she plans to use the scholarship to help with finances including teaching supplies and rent for her apartment. Allyson plans to use the scholarship for living expenses and supplies as well while she is student teaching at Tri-Valley High School in Hegins, PA. Rosalind will be student teaching at Penn Manor High School in Millersville, PA, and she plans to use the scholarship to offset living expenses during her student teaching experience.

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."

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog!

Luke Kerstetter

Communications Team Member

Twitter Handle: @lmkerstetter96

2020 Agricultural Education Student Teacher

#psuaged15 Member, Carly-Jean Schaefer, Awarded University Leadership Scholarship

Carly-Jean Schaefer,
2015 Student Teacher Candidate

Being active in many clubs, organizations and events has always been something Carly-Jean Schaefer (@CarlyJeanBean) loved. Now, not only is she a member of many groups, she has become a leader. Carly-Jean started the first Agriculture Club at Penn State Behrend, was nominated for the Freshman of the Year award, is a mentor for change of campus students and facilitates freshman seminars. 

Her hard work and leadership abilities made Carly-Jean a perfect recipient for the Jane Wood Reno Memorial Scholarship. The Scholarship which is given through the Student Leadership and Service Awards Committee recognizes students who have achieved superior academic records, provides community service and holds leadership positions.

Carly with current Student Teacher, Megan Slates
at the National FFA Convention.

Carly-Jean was very grateful that people are investing in the future of current students. She said “It is so kind that scholarships are sponsored for students enrolling in higher education.  I am working and paying my own way through college so it is a great relief to be recognized and have someone out there to help me pay for tuition.  I am very appreciative and grateful to have received this award.”

Schaefer credits her leadership abilities to her passion for agriculture along with growing up in Allegheny County homesteading with her family. “My parents always supported my sister's and I's work ethic and our passions.  I believe that what helped me the most through my undergrad years is my hard work ethic that I learned from Ma and Pa.”

Carly-Jean’s future plan is for ultimate success. Whether it is teaching high school, becoming a cranberry farmer up north, teaching extension or taking a Conestoga wagon out west and being a pioneer, Carly just wants to be passionate about what she does and be happy doing it.

Carly was also a member of the PSU Collegiate Debate team with
fellow AEE Majors Howard Poole, Jeanne Case and Caleb Wright. 

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog!

Laura Metrick

Student Blogger

2104 Teach Ag Avenger

Twitter: @Its_LauraBeth

2015 Student Teacher Candidate 

AEE Student Awarded Scholarship at PA State Farm Show

The Pennsylvania State Farm show is the largest indoor agricultural event in America. Each year hundreds of thousands people attend the event in Harrisburg to view many farm equipment displays, livestock and educational exhibits and agriculturally related demonstrations. Many students from Penn State exhibit animals and projects throughout the week and several volunteer their time working at many different booths.

Another aspect of the Farm Show that has been exciting for numerous Penn State students is the annual scholarship program. In 2014, twenty five students received the $3,500 award. Ten of those students attend Penn State and one is an Agriculture and Extension Education major.

Megan Kellar participating in the Hereford
Cattle show at the 2014 State Farm Show. 

Megan Kellar (@MeganLego) was born and raised showing livestock and has been attending the PA State Farm Show for as long as she can remember. She stated "Being able to receive the 2014 Farm Show scholarship is such a great honor. It is great to be recognized for all the hard work and dedication I have put into my education as well as my hobby and passion which is showing livestock." Megan, a 2015 student teacher candidate, has shown a wide variety of animals including goats, swine, cattle and lambs.

The College of Agricultural Sciences has contributed additional scholarship money to students enrolled in good standing in the college who receive Farm Show scholarships. The amount of this year's scholarship is $3,500, and the college will add $2,000. The Farm Show Scholarship Foundation was established in 1993 through the generous support of several key leaders in agriculture and three companies that contributed more than $11,000 toward scholarships. Since its founding, the Foundation had awarded nearly $1,064,750 in scholarships to 395 worthy 4-H and FFA Youth.

Megan Kellar accepting her scholarship along with her parents, Secretary of Agriculture: George Greig, Senator John Eichelberger, Congressman G.T. Thompson and Sponsor Phil Clemens

To learn more about the Pennsylvania State Farm Show Scholarship Foundation visit www.farmshow.state.pa.us

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog!

Laura Metrick 
Student Blogger
2015 Student Teacher
Twitter: Its_LauraBeth

Penn State -- The MOST Students Receiving Scholarships from NAAE in the Nation

Fifteen students from across the United Stated have been selected for the Upper Division Agricultural Education Scholarship through the National Association by Agricultural Educators (NAAE) due to their academic performance, leadership and service activities. The Pennsylvania State University is home to THREE of those individuals. Congratulations to Caleb Wright, Emily Urban and Mindy Stoops! Each of them will be receiving $750 to help offset the expenses that they will face during their student teaching experience this coming spring.

L-R Caleb Wright, Mindy Stoops, and Emily Urban

Caleb Wright plans on using the money for living expenses, as he needs to focus all his time on student teaching rather than trying to work a second job. Emily wants to use her scholarship money to help with tuition during the spring semester.  Mindy would like to use her amount for living expenses and transportation. All three of them understand the importance of belonging to a professional organization in their field and are excited to be members of NAAE and also PAAE (Pennsylvania Association of Agricultural Educators). They know that the professional organizations will help them to continue growing as a teacher professional after their college career. 

As stated in the NAAE News Release:

The funding for the Upper Division Scholarship comes from Gothic Arch Greenhouses, Delmar Cengage Learning, and donations by NAAE members. Gothic Arch Greenhouses specializes in greenhouses and supplies for a variety of uses including agricultural education programs. Delmar Cengage Learning delivers highly customized agricultural education learning solutions for all levels of educational institutions.

NAAE is the professional organization in the United States for agricultural educators. It provides its' nearly 8,000 members with professional networking and development opportunities, professional liability coverage, and extensive awards and recognition programs. The mission of NAAE is “professionals providing agricultural education for the global community though visionary leadership, advocacy and service.” They are headquartered in Lexington, Ky.

To learn more about starting on the path to having a career that makes a positive impact on the lives of students across the globe by becoming an agricultural educator, please contact the agricultural teacher education program at teachag@psu.edu. Follow us on Twitter at TeachAgPSU, on Facebook, or on our blog!

Jeanne Case

Student Blogger

2014 Dover HS Student Teacher

Twitter: JRose_Case