Ryan Williamson | Kylie Temple |
Emily Glaze | Madyson McAshlan |
The US Rice Producers Association Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship Committee is pleased to announce its 2024 scholarship recipients. Ryan Williamson, a junior at Texas A&M University, will receive a $5,000 scholarship from the Stoesser family to continue his education. Williamson is a student in Texas A&M’s Business Honors program while also working toward a certificate in International Trade and Agriculture. Growing up in the rice farming community of El Campo, Texas, Ryan developed a passion for agriculture from a very young age. This passion eventually led him to become involved in 4-H and FFA, where he most recently completed his year of service as the 2022-2023 National FFA Western Region Vice President. In this position, he traveled to more than 30 states to meet with FFA members and stakeholders, deliver workshops and keynote addresses, and advocate for American agriculture. In addition to the monetary award, Williamson will serve as a student ambassador for USRPA in 2024. He will be invited to participate in various USRPA activities, including but not limited to Field Days, legislative activities, Texas Rice Council meetings, and conferences. The committee had a pool of exceptional candidates, which allowed them to extend scholarship offers to those who placed second, third, and fourth. Kylie Temple, a high school senior at Hermiston High School in Hermiston, OR will receive a $1500 scholarship. Emily Glaze, a high school senior from El Campo, TX will receive a $1000 scholarship, and Madyson McAshlan, a high school senior from Santa Fe, TX will receive a $500 scholarship. Born and raised in eastern Oregon, Temple is a four-time state winner in a multitude of FFA competitions including food science, prepared public speaking, and job interview, in which she placed top four nationally. She currently serves as the 2023-2024 Oregon FFA State Vice President, advocating for agriculture and leadership. After her year of service, she looks forward to attending university to pursue a degree in agriculture business and communications. Glaze, a high school senior from El Campo, Texas, will attend Texas Tech University this fall. She is heavily involved in 4-H and FFA, showing black Brangus cattle throughout Texas. She is a fourth-generation rice farmer and has a deep passion for all things ag-related. McAshlan is a senior at Friendswood High School and plans to attend West Texas A&M University to study Agriculture Communications and Media. She is a current Texas FFA Area lll Officer and the Galveston County 4-H Chairman. She has raised over 50 market lambs, and over 100 market rabbits, and started her own Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat operation, Twisted Elm Dairy Goats. Applicants of the Ray Stoesser Memorial Scholarship must be high school seniors or current college students who are interested in or are currently pursuing a career in an agriculture-related field. For more information, visit http://usriceproducers.com/scholarship. |