College of Agriculture and LIFE Sciences:
2020 posed unprecedented challenges for each of us. Chief among these is the impact of COVID-19 on our livelihoods, our health and our food systems. But with challenges come opportunities, and agriculture—and more specifically, Texas A&M—is poised to be a solution.
Our students and their families need us now more than ever, and a quality higher education is their key to the future. My wish for 2021 is that we continue to attract the best and brightest students to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M, regardless of financial limitations. To make this possible, we need to increase our focus on scholarship programs. We have two primary scholarship programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences:
- The Norman Borlaug Endowed Research Scholarship (NBERS) program is the college’s most esteemed scholarship aimed at attracting students interested in furthering research for the advancement of agriculture. This scholarship program offers matching funds for both undergraduate and graduate scholarships.
- In 2021, we are unveiling a new focus on first-generation student scholarships. With an added purpose of advising, mentorship and interaction designed to promote transition and retention, this scholarship program will enhance undergraduate education opportunities for students who are the first in their families to attend college.
If there is a silver lining to the last year, it is the spotlight the pandemic has shone on the role land-grant universities like Texas A&M play in addressing grand challenges. With your partnership, we can educate the next generation of future leaders who will protect our health, livelihoods, food security and nutrition for the world.
Dr. Patrick Stover
Vice Chancellor, Texas A&M AgriLife
Dean, Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Director, Texas A&M AgriLife Research