CAFNR
students appreciate monetary awards
Rachel Moten, posted Oct. 30, 2006
Laughter
rose, conversations were sparked, feet shuffled across the
floor and plates and utensils clinked on Oct. 23 at the MU
Reynolds Alumni Center. Cameras flashed as CAFNR students,
donors and friends of the college floated into the room where
they were about to attend a scholarship and donor recognition
luncheon.
About 130 to 140 students attended the luncheon and thanks
to the 40 donors who attended this event, it was a great turnout
according to Kristen Smarr, director of communications and
external relations for CAFNR.
“It’s really an opportunity for the recipients
to thank their donors,” said Smarr. If the donors did
not show up, Smarr said she would send the recipient’s
picture to the donor.
Most students earned scholarships from filling out their financial
aid package, which entailed writing an essay and/or filling
out an application. The Colleges of Academic Programs Office
in the College of Agriculture decides what scholarships students
receive based on the information filled out in the financial
aid package.
“I just fit the criteria,” said Tyler McBee, an
MU student. He received a $500 Jack and Delores Krumme Scholarship
because he was from Northwest Missouri and an active FFA member
in high school.
Jessica Logan, an MU student, said she felt good when she
heard she received a scholarship because it helped her pay
for tuition.
The donors, as well as the recipients, gave helpful advice
for students who wish to apply for scholarships in general.
“Keep applying because a lot of these scholarships go
unrewarded,” Riffle said.
“Work on your resume, keep your GPA up and stay involved
with other activities,” MU student Whitney Wiegel said.
“Make sure you get the paperwork in, in a timely fashion
because that’s what triggers the [scholarship] process,”
Smarr said.
An eminent person who attended the luncheon was Allan Purdy.
For 48 years, he worked with students and donors in the scholarship
and financial aid process on four University of Missouri campuses.
His advice to students was, “You’re called students,
so you’re diligent at pursuing whatever you feel you
love to do. The world wants good workers, [ones that] know
what they’re doing and like what they’re doing.”
“We’ve gotten several contacts already saying
that they [the donors] enjoyed meeting with the students at
the luncheon. It was a positive experience and they really
enjoyed it,” Smarr said.
