INA, Ill. (Aug. 8, 2023) — Three Rend Lake College students were awarded The GROWMARK Foundation Agriculture scholarship for their outstanding contributions and commitment to the future of farming.
Maddie Karcher (Dahlgren), Anna Kistner (Scheller), and Sophie Trader (Scheller) have been honored with The GROWMARK Foundation Agriculture Scholarship.
Kathy Helmers, RLC Agriculture Professor, has worked with all three students and had nothing but positive things to say about each of them: “Anna Kistner was a wonderful student and is very excited to be a part of the Ag Industry… she is always looking to broaden her knowledge. She will no doubt reach her goals. I am very excited to see where her career takes her.
[Karcher] is an exceptional student who has a passion for the Ag Industry. Maddie is very goal oriented and will achieve whatever she sets her mind to do. I know that she will go far…
Sophie Trader will be a freshman [at RLC] this Fall. I have not had the pleasure of having her in the classroom yet. I am excited to get to know Sophie more and look forward to seeing where she wants to go.”
Karcher and Trader are current students at RLC; Kistner graduated in May 2023 and will be attending SIU in the Fall.
“My Growmark scholarship was quite an honor because it meant being recognized as a leader in the ag industry,” said Kistner. “This scholarship is going to allow me to build upon the education that I received at RLC and to one day be able to make a difference to farmers and farming.”
The GROWMARK Foundation is committed to supporting the future of students and agriculture through their scholarships. The GROWMARK Foundation scholarship awards $2,000 each to 55 different students pursuing a degree or certificate in agriculture and/or business across community colleges, universities, or technical schools.
Karcher has been awarded the Legence Bank Merit Scholarship, the Rubenacker Family Scholarship, and the Marvin Wilkerson Memorial Scholarship while attending RLC; Kistner has been awarded the Mr. A Scholarship, the Keith Bauman Memorial Scholarship, and the Kelley Family Scholarship while attending RLC; and Trader has the received the AGE Scholarship while attending RLC.
“Coming from a generation of farmers, being involved in the agriculture industry means a continued future for my family, our community, and our country! I would like to thank Growmark for their support in my continuing education into the agriculture industry,” said Trader.
RLC values the future of farming and how it impacts communities in Southern Illinois. That is why at the new Agronomy Innovation Center, RLC equips its students with all the tools they need to succeed so that by the time they graduate, they are ready to start making a difference. Karcher, Kistner, and Trader have already proven they are well on their way.
“Receiving the Growmark scholarship means that I will be able to continue to pursue a career in the industry that holds such a special place in my heart,” said Karcher. “I am eager to work in the field of agriculture and I am so thankful for opportunities like this that allow me to further my education. Thank you Growmark. I am greatly appreciative of this scholarship.”
To learn more about the agriculture program and to get involved, visit: https://rlc.edu/programs-and-degrees/332-agriculture.
