Scholarships aim to keep ag education teachers in Nebraska

    The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation awarded 10 teachers with funds in support of agricultural education and FFA programs in Nebraska.
     “All 10 teachers are committed to making a difference in rural Nebraska,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation.
    “We’re proud to support this year’s winners and their contributions to their classrooms and communities.”
    One of the scholarship recipients is Blair Hartman of Champion, who is an ag education teacher and FFA advisor in the Ansley Public Schools system.
     Recipients are all ag education teachers in their first through fifth year of teaching. Teachers are eligible for increasing awards each year.
    The Teacher Retention Award supports those beginning their teaching careers in Nebraska. The award grows each year for five years, providing $500, $750, $1,000, $1,250 and $1,500. Hartman is in her second year of teaching and received $750 this year.
    In total, a Nebraska teacher can receive $6,500 from the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation if selected to receive the scholarship and all five years of the Agricultural Education Teacher Retention Award.
    The other nine scholarship recipients include Kathryn Arp, Bishop Neumann High School; Jacob Goldfuss, Sandy Creek Public Schools; Kate Grimes, Axtell Community School; Hannah Horak, Shelton High School; Brian Johnson, Litchfield Public Schools; Lacey Jo Peterson, Riverside Public Schools; Morgan Schwartz, Stanton Community Schools; Nicole Sorensen, Minatare High School; and Macie Wippel, Kearney Public Schools.