01/30/18 – KHSAA Partners With Kentucky Department of Agriculture to Create Ag Athlete of the Year Awards

January 30, 2018 2017-2018 News Releases

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2018

The KHSAA has teamed with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to create new college scholarship opportunities for student-athletes involved in agriculture. As part of the 2018 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ Sweet 16® (March 14-18), the KHSAA and the Department of Agriculture will award six $1,000 scholarships to three male and three female senior student-athletes, with the honorees recognized as the 2018 Kentucky Ag Athletes of the Year.

“The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is honored to be partnering up with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association to provide this scholarship opportunity for students who balance agricultural and athletic interests,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. “It is my hope that the 2018 Kentucky Ag Athletes will be able to use these $1,000 scholarships to further their education and ultimately give back to their communities.”

The one-time scholarships, payable to an institution of higher learning, will be awarded to senior student-athletes involved in agriculture that plan on continuing their education at a two-year or four-year institution, or trade school following graduation. No state taxpayer dollars will be used to pay for the scholarships; they will be supported by the Department’s “Ag Tag” Fund, which is financed by voluntary donations from Kentucky motorists who buy or renew farm vehicle license plates.

“We deeply appreciate the Department of Agriculture and its commitment to the Commonwealth and look forward to a great partnership where we use one of our biggest stages to recognize and reward rising stars in Agriculture,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “It is a welcome opportunity for us to help honor students who participate in our sports and sport-activities while also managing their commitment to Kentucky’s signature industry.”

Interested students will complete the online application and provide all requested information by February 26th. As part of the application process, students will be required to submit a short 500-word essay on the challenge of balancing their agricultural responsibilities with athletic participation. Finalists will also be asked to provide two letters of recommendation (one centered around their involvement in agriculture, and one focused on their athletic career).

To apply online, visit: http://khsaa.org/ge83-2018-agriculture-athlete-of-the-year-scholarship-application/

-KHSAA-

About the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) touches the lives of all Kentuckians every day through its regulatory duties, its marketing services, and its youth programs. The KDA conducts numerous programs to educate Kentucky’s youth about the importance of agriculture to the state’s economy and way of life. Visit www.kyagr.com to learn more about how the KDA affects you 365 days a year.

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 279 member schools both public and private. The KHSAA sanctions 44 state championships in 13 sports and 5 sport-activities, licenses and trains over 4,000 officials, provides catastrophic insurance for its more than 70,000 member school student-athletes, as well as overseeing coaching education and sports safety programs.

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