Virgil K. Webster Scholarship

History

The Virgil K. Webster Award was established in 1977.  It was originally intended for persons with Extension experience wishing to obtain a graduate degree in agronomy leading to specialist positions in Extension.  In 2003, with the permission of the Webster family, the award was modified to include students pursuing a degree through the Master of Science in Agronomy Distance Education Program.  

Virgil K. Webster graduated from Iowa State College with a degree in Farm Crops and Soils in 1925.  He was a County Agricultural Agent in Palo Alto County (Northwest Iowa) from 1927 to 1932.  From 1932 to 1943 he served in the Office of Farm Management and the Soil Conservation Service.  In 1943 he rejoined ISU as an area agronomist serving Northeast Iowa (Delaware County) and remained with the Extension Service until his retirement in 1967.

Virgil (Vergil) K. Webster from ISU 'Bomb' Yearbook, 1925

Eligibility

  • Students must be admitted into and active in the MS Agronomy distance graduate degree program.
  • Students must submit a letter stating his/her desire to be considered for the scholarship (application registration format below).  This letter must include:
    • Clearly stated reasons the student is competitive for this scholarship 
    • Previous work experience
    • Student goals once the degree is obtained
  • Financial need is a criterion.  Preference will be given to those who are not receiving other forms of monetary support.
  • Should the scholarship applicants be very competitive, the scholarship committee may review student transcripts to assess academic performance.  The MS Agronomy Program will have access to internal ISU transcripts.

Application Deadline

July 10, 2023
(for 2023/2024 academic year)
How to apply:  Write a letter to the Scholarship committee stating your desire to be considered for the scholarship and clearly state the reasons you are competitive for this scholarship.  Previous work experience and goals once the degree is obtained should be stated in the letter.  If you wish the Scholarship Committee to consider financial need, please describe your circumstances.  Also, if you are receiving outside financial assistance (i.e., from an employer), please note that in your letter.

Send your letter of interest to msagron@iastate.edu using the words Webster Scholarship Application in your e-mail subject line.

Award Details

  • The award is $1,500, which is split between two semesters in the academic year after the award is granted ($750 for any two terms - fall, spring or summer).  If a student has only one semester remaining, the entire award will be granted for that semester. 
  • The award will be in the form of credit applied toward the student's U-bill.
  • The student(s) awarded the scholarship will be notified within one month after the application deadline.
  • This is an annual scholarship. Students can apply every year, even if awarded the scholarship previously.