Crop Insurance Today February 2018 - 27

C r o p I n s u r a n c e

VisitWebsite
ag-risk.org

1890 Scholarship Program
Preparing a Diverse
Workforce for the Future
By Dr. Laurence M. Crane, NCIS

Tashieka Smith

Mar'Kayla Bethea

In 2001, the NCIS Board of Directors approved funding for a scholarship program, helping qualified students at the 1890 Land-Grant
Universities complete their education. Since that
time there have been 18 students from six different intuitions receive scholarships. Without
exception these students have been deserving,
and very appreciative of the financial help and
encouragement.
"We have experienced that sometimes when
a student has financial difficulties, his/her GPA
falls, not to mention self-worth because of the
struggle to earn the finances to stay in college and
not being able to associate with their fellow classmates," commented Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim,
Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics at
Fort Valley State University in Georgia. "Sometimes, this struggle leads them to obtain a full or
part-time job off campus and those jobs usually
(due to lack of study time) cause their academic
performance to fall."
The scholarship program is just one of several
activities NCIS engages in to build and strengthen relationships and strengthen the association
between the crop insurance industry and the mi-

Jacquelyn "Nicole"
Edwards

Helena Hollins

nority community engaged in agriculture. As the
industry actively works to increase the diversity
in their workforce to reflect the diversity of the
farmers we serve, the scholarship program is a
key building block to preparing and delivering
an educated and diverse workforce.
"On behalf of our Lincoln University (LU)
President, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs,
faculty and students in the College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences, I wish
to thank NCIS again for your continued financial
support for our students and for helping LU's efforts in developing a competent agriculture workforce for the next generation," acknowledged Dr.
Albert E. Essel, Dean, Research Director & 1890
Administrator, College of Agriculture.
Whereas most Federal programs are delivered to citizens through a Federal agency, the
Federal crop insurance program is delivered to
farmers through the private insurance industry. There are 15 Approved Insurance Providers who have a contract (Standard Reinsurance
Agreement) with USDA to deliver (sell) crop
insurance to farmers. As the not-for-profit
trade association for those 15 companies, NCIS

Charles Waller

Anissa Taylor

provides services to and for these insurance
companies. Because crop insurance is a Federal
program the industry has an obligation to reach
out to "underserved audiences." In practice
this means small, limited-resource and socially
disadvantaged farmers. On behalf of the crop
insurance industry, NCIS' outreach activities
work with the Historically Black Colleges and
Universities that have agricultural programs,
Non-governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, and other allied professionals who work with and serve minority
farmers across the country.
Over the years, NCIS has participated in
several activities with the small farm program
at Alabama A&M University and has awarded
scholarships to four different students - Tashieka Smith, Anissa Taylor, Mar'Kayla Bethea, and
Tatayana Kennedy.
"Alabama A&M University is truly grateful to have NCIS as a partner. Your support of
our underserved students with serious financial need is noted with utmost gratitude. We
look forward to our continued partnership,"
remarked Dr. Duncan M. Chembezi, Professor and
CROPINSURANCE TODAY®

http://www.ag-risk.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crop Insurance Today February 2018