Contact: Gary Kohn (608) 757-7769 or cell (608) 436-9578, gkohn@blackhawk.edu
Rural foundation and technical college system partner to provide Agribusiness and Nursing scholarships
JANESVILLE, WI – – Improving the quality of rural life by providing more educational opportunities for technical college students is just one of the reasons the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation (WROF) has partnered with the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) to offer $17,000 in scholarships to WTCS students for the 2016-17 school year.
Designed to defray the costs for full-time and part-time students in Nursing or Agriculture programs, Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) students in the Agribusiness Specialist, Agribusiness/Science Technology, Farm Business and Production Management, Nursing or Nursing Assistant programs are all eligible to apply for awards of $500 each.
“We’re grateful that the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation continues to provide agriculture students opportunities to further their education,” said Dustin Williams, Blackhawk Agribusiness Instructor. “These awards are going to benefit many individuals who need a little extra help to pursue their career.”
“Scholarships are a great way to encourage prospective nursing students in rural communities to pursue education to better themselves and their communities,” said Dr. Doris Ellison, Blackhawk Associate Dean of Nursing.
A total of 34 scholarships will be available for 2016-17. BTC students can now apply for the awards by filling out the application located on blackhawk.edu, within the news tab of the site’s homepage. Applications must be completed and submitted to the BTC Financial Aid Office no later than December 9, 2016.
Students eligible for the scholarships must meet the following criteria:
– Must be a Wisconsin resident and enrolled full-time or part-time in an eligible Wisconsin technical college program.
– Must apply for financial aid, and financial need is determined by a financial aid officer at the local technical college.
– Applicant must have been or currently be a member of a family operating a Wisconsin Farm. A family farm is defined as an agricultural entity of any size with the majority of the family income derived from the farm operations. This does not include hobby farms. Farms in other states do not qualify.
– If there are not a sufficient number of approved applicants involved in a Wisconsin Family Farm, consideration may then be given to a person from a rural Wisconsin area. Rural is defined as a township, village or city with a population of less than 20,000, based on the most recent Federal Census.
– In the event an applicant has completed his / her first year, prior academic achievement will be considered.
Scholarship awards will be determined by the Wisconsin Rural Opportunities Foundation, Inc. Selected students will be notified in January and should receive the funds during the spring semester of 2017.
ABOUT BLACKHAWK TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Blackhawk Technical College is part of the Wisconsin Technical College System. BTC has five campus locations in Monroe, Milton, Beloit and Janesville, WI offering more than 50 programs including two-year associate degrees, one- and two-year technical diplomas and short-term career pathway certificates. In addition, BTC is a major provider of customized training and technical assistance for the Rock and Green County business community. More than half of all adults living in Wisconsin have accessed the technical colleges for education and training during the last decade.
