Six scholarships available for Ky. prep athletes involved with agriculture

Applications due by December 31st

(STORY COURTESY OF KENTUCKY TODAY)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Kentucky high school student-athletes, both male and female, who are involved in agriculture are invited to apply for one of six available scholarships, as well as recognition as a 2024 Kentucky Ag Athlete of the Year.

The program is a partnership of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).

In order to qualify, the student-athlete applicants must be involved in Kentucky agriculture, must participate in one or more KHSAA sports or sport activities during the 2023-2024 school year, must be graduating seniors in high school, and must be accepted to either a college, university, or trade school following graduation.  They must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0, on a 4.0 scale.  If weighted, the GPA must be converted to a 4.0 scale by a school counselor.

An agriculture major is not required, and preference will be given to Kentucky colleges.  However, out-of-state schools will be considered, but only if the applicant is seeking a specialized degree in an agricultural field.

Two student-athletes – one male and one female – will be named Outstanding Kentucky Ag Athletes of the Year and each will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship. Four other student-athletes – two males and two females – will each be awarded $1,000 scholarships as Kentucky Ag Athletes of the Year.  The winners’ names will be announced during the 2024 UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet Sixteen high school basketball tournament in March at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

The scholarships are payable to an institution of higher learning.  Funding for the scholarships comes from the KDA’s “Ag Tag” program, which is funded by voluntary donations from Kentucky drivers when they buy or renew their farm vehicle license plates.  No state taxpayer dollars are used to fund the scholarship awards.

Student-athletes must submit their applications online by Dec. 31.  For more information, as well as to apply, go to khsaa.org/ge83-agriculture-athlete-of-the-year-scholarship-application/.