Five Ag Day Scholarship winners announced

 

[June 25, 2020] 

This year’s Ag Day Scholarship Breakfast had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. However, Jim Drew of the Logan County Farm Bureau hosted a Zoom meeting to meet the scholarship recipients on June 16.

The five scholarship recipients this year included Cavit Schempp, Sami Perschall, Amelia Kuhlman, Shaun Berry and James Letterle.

As the meeting began, Logan County Farm Bureau President Ron Kindred said the scholarship program is very important to the Farm Bureau Board. The Farm Bureau works hard to support businesses and the businesses help support the scholarships, making them possible. Kindred said he recognizes these students will be important to businesses in the future and the scholarship program is a good way to showcase them.

Each scholarship recipient had a chance to briefly share their plans for college and career goals plus their activities and awards during high school.

The $7,500 scholarship winner Cavit Schempp is the son of Darin and Cindy Schempp.

Schempp plans to attend Augustana College in the fall to study Accounting and Geology with a minor in Minerology. After college, Schempp hopes to do accounting for farm accounts, especially those having trouble. Additionally, Schempp would like to work with Geology at Illinois State Museum.

Schempp was home schooled through Midwest Christian Academy and took two classes at Olympia High School each semester.

Schempp was in FFA for four years and 4-H for nine years. During Schempp’s years in FFA, he served as historian his sophomore year, treasurer his junior year and president his senior year.

He also volunteered for the Atlanta Fire Department. From seventh through 12th grades, Schempp tutored elementary students at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church through a program called H.O.P.E. Tutoring.

In addition, through the LincolnLand CEO program, Schempp started a business called Silicate Designs where he turned stones into necklaces.

Amelia Kuhlman is the $5,000 scholarship winner. She is the daughter Katie Buckles and Jason Kuhlman.

Kuhlman plans to attend Northern Illinois University in the fall to study event planning.

After college, Kuhlman hopes to do event planning for an agriculture company.

Kuhlman is a 2020 graduate of Mount Pulaski High School where she was in FFA for four years and a chapter officer for three of those years. She was also in the drama club, part of the National Honor Society and a student council member for one year.

Sami Perschall also is a $5,000 scholarship winner. She is the daughter of Bob Perschall and Sonja Perschall.

Perschall plans to attend Heartland Community College in the fall and later transfer to Illinois State University.

After college, Perschall wants to be an Ag teacher.

Perschall is a 2020 graduate Hartem High School where she was president of her FFA chapter and the student council and part of the volleyball team, yearbook staff and senior Beta Club.

Awards included one for top GPA in ag class her junior year and one for independent study.

Shaun Berry is a $500 scholarship winner. He is the son of Mike Berry and Darlene Berry.

Barry plans to attend Lincoln Land Community College in the fall to study Agricultural Business Management.

After college, he hopes to have a career in farm management.

Barry is a 2020 graduate of Mount Pulaski High School where he was in FFA for three years. Recently, Barry won a Memorial Day essay contest and a Civics award.

Another $500 Scholarship winner is James Letterle, the son of Brian Letterle and Shelly Letterle.

Letterle plans to attend Lakeland Community College this fall and study in the John Deere Tech Program. He is currently doing a John Deere Tech internship at AHW in Mount Pulaski.

Letterle is a graduate of Mount Pulaski High School where he was a two-year FFA member. He also participated in the Section 4 Ag Mechanic contest.

Letterle’s was part of soccer and trap and skeet shooting teams.

Kindred wished all the scholarship winners good luck as they prepare to start college this fall.

[Angela Reiners]