Meet our Scholarship Recipients

Proudly investing in your future. 

In alignment with our mission to support Illinois farm families and the future of agriculture through education, the IAA Foundation is pleased to share the 2023 scholarship recipients. 

Seventy-five students were selected to receive scholarships based on their academic achievement, participation and leadership in school and community organizations, and overall commitment to success. A total of $144,501 will be distributed to assist with tuition costs for the 2023-2024 school year. The Foundation received 394 applications this year, representing 94 counties from across the state of Illinois. 

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our 2023 Scholarship Recipients! It is an honor and a privilege to support deserving students through our diverse scholarship program. 

2023 IAA Foundation Scholars

Picture of Barbara Close

Zach Kampwerth, Clinton County

From Carlyle, Zach is the son of Matt and Tanya Kampwerth. He will be a junior at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, majoring in Agricultural Economics. 

 

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Gage Miller, Henry County
The son of Travis and Starla Fransene, Gage will be a senior majoring in Agriculture Communications and Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Gage is from Cambridge, IL. 

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Halie Kohl, Kankakee County 
From Herscher, IL, Halie is the daughter of Jason Kohl and Lisa Patchett. Entering her junior year at Illinois State University, Halie is majoring in Agribusiness. 

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David Mock, Henry County
David is an Agricultural and Consumer Economics major who will be a Sophomore at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From Galva, IL, David is the son of James and Miriam Mock. 

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Brodee McCormick, Menard County
Agricultural Education major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Jordyn Gerlach, Montgomery County 
Animal Science major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Lauren McMillan, Bureau County
Agriculture Strategic Brand Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

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Sophia Stierwalt, Champaign County 
Agricultural Statistics major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Benjamin Bremmer, Stephenson County
Agribusiness, Markets and Management major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Barbara Close, Mercer County
Agricultural and Consumer Economics major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Abigail Hoeft, McLean County
Forest and Resource Management major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Emma Kuhns, Effingham County
Agricultural and Consumer Economics major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Reagan Kulenkamp, Macoupin County 
Agricultural and Consumer Economics major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Paige Lemenager, McLean County
Agriculture Transfer major at Lake Land College. 

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Jordi Oliver, Johnson County
Agriculture Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Emma Smith, Grundy County
Animal Science major at Illinois State University.

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Shelby Basham, Iroquois County 
Agriculture Communications major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Jace Green, Douglas County
Agribusiness major at Western Illinois University. 

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Erika Vandeveer, Douglas County
Crop and Soil Science major at Southeast Missouri State University.

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Loren Koenigstein, Monroe County
Agricultural Economics major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. 

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Molly Warner, Woodford County
Agribusiness, Markets and Management major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Carissa Jefferson, Wayne County
Agribusiness major at College of the Ozarks. 

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Jorri VanDyke, Richland County
Animal Science major at Lake Land College.

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Sheridan Hank, Mercer County
Agriculture Communications major at Iowa State University.

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Riley Nebel, Lake County
Agronomy Management major at Illinois State University. 

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Ashlyn Murdock, Knox County
Agriculture Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Amos Kramme, Crawford County
Chemical Engineering major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Haley Bode, Monroe County
Agricultural Education major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Cade Cockburn, Williamson County
Agribusiness major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Cole Paulek, Christian County
Animal Science major at Butler Community College.

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Kade Portz, Washington County
Agribusiness major at Murray State University.

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Lizzie Schafer, Christian County 
Agriculture Communications major at Butler Community College.

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Tanner Mickey, Christian County
Agribusiness, Markets and Management major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Shana Lueking, Clinton County
Agribusiness major at Murray State University. 

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Mitchell Mannhard, Clinton County
Health Science major at Maryville University.

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Lauren Wolter, Clinton County 
Animal Science major at Kansas State University.

Madeline Nightingale, Henry County
Agriculture Transfer major at Lake Land College.

Undergraduate $1,500 Scholar:
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Bella Kostallari, Stephenson County
Animal Science major at Iowa State University.

 

Veterinary Medicine $3,000 Scholar:
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Tess Cummings, Iroquois County
DVM at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Adam Swartzendruber, Tazewell County
Agricultural Engineering major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Adam Loker, Wayne County
Agriculture Communications major at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.

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Cade Miller, Lake County
Environmental Studies and Sustainability major at Illinois State University.

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Joleen Deters, Cumberland County
Agribusiness major at Lake Land College.

Will Goings, Madison County
Biology major at the University of Missouri.

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Riley Heffren, Perry County
Creative Writing major at Truman State University.

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Shayden Hogg, Washington County
Agriculture Transfer at Lake Land College. 

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Candice Mitchell, Shelby County
Pre-Vet Med major at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

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Bailey Niedbalski, Livingston County
Finance major at the University of Mississippi. 

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Samantha Niehaus, Durham, MO
Accounting major at Southeast Missouri State University.  

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Madison Reese, Madison County
Animal Science major at Murray State University. 

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Caleb Unverfehrt, Lexington, TN
Agronomy major at Murray State University.

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Samuel Vonderheide, Madison County
Agricultural Production major at Lake Land College. 

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Wyatt Zehr, Livingston County
Dairy Science major at South Dakota State University. 

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Alex Zimmerman, O'Fallon, MO
Computer Aided Drafting major at St. Charles Community College. 

Agriculture Scholar
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Ava Splear, DeKalb County 
Agriculture Communications and Leadership major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Nursing Scholar

Sierra Siedlecki, Lake County
Nursing major at Nova Southeastern University. 

Jarvis Williams, Cook County
Engineering Technology and Management for Agricultural Systems major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Incoming Freshman $1,000 Scholars:

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Jack Jungmann, Warren County
Agriculture Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Kylee Oglesby, Saline County
Pre-Vet Med major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

 

Incoming Junior $2,500 Scholars:

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Katelyn Engel, Knox County
Agriculture Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Jenna Spangler, Fulton County
Food Science major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Haley Bucher, Tazewell County 
Animal Science major at Texas A&M University. 

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Lydia Rogers, Tazewell County 
Agribusiness major at Iowa State University. 

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Anna Taylor, Mercer County 
Equine Science major at Black Hawk College. 

Libby Larkin, Livingston County
Agribusiness major at Hawkeye Community College. 

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Greta Hall, Edgar County
Agribusiness major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Taylor Dietz, Champaign County
Animal Science major at Iowa State University.

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Kendra Downing, Henry County
Horticulture major at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

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Rachel Hood, McDonough County
Agricultural Education major at Kansas State University. 

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Grace Pollitt, Schuyler County
Animal Science major at Iowa State University. 

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Taylor Talbert, Iroquois County 
Agriculture Communications major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.