Edward Slettom Cooperative Leadership Scholarship

MCEF offers Edward Slettom Cooperative Leadership scholarships for high school, college, graduate and law school students interested in pursuing careers in cooperatives. The scholarship was created in honor of the former Minnesota Association of Cooperatives’ (MAC) long-time Executive Director Ed Slettom. Slettom led the then-MAC from 1956 to 1986. One of his greatest passions was educating youth across the state, nationally, and throughout the world about the importance of cooperatives.

The Slettom scholarship awards include $500 for a high school student, $750 for a student at a two or four-year undergraduate institution, and $1,000 for a student in graduate, business, or law school. The awards are based on scholastic achievement, leadership, and an ability to contribute to cooperatives in the future. Applicants must be Minnesota residents but need not attend a Minnesota institution of higher education.

Selection Criteria: The MCEF Scholarship Committee will judge applications according to applicants’ scholastic achievement, leadership, and ability to contribute to cooperatives in the future.

Deadline:

Application Checklist: All submissions should include the following:

  • A completed application form. Your application must be typed, not handwritten.
  • Your current transcripts.
  • Two completed recommendation forms (see application for forms) from current or former employers, school officials, professors, mentors, etc.
  • Should you choose to submit your application using the video essay option (Option #2 on the application), your transcripts and two completed recommendation forms are also required to be considered a complete application.

Applications:

High School Level
College Level
Graduate / Law / Business

Cultivating Ag Educators

The need for dynamic and innovative urban and rural education is vital for meeting the future needs of agriculture.

By fostering the interest and passion of young people in agriculture, the Cultivating Agricultural Educators Scholarship supports students who wish to pursue a career in agricultural education.

A Defining Moment
For any business to thrive, it needs to have people who are prepared to lead in the workforce of the future. Young people are especially interested in the story behind their food and want to know more about how it is produced. Now’s the time to benefit from their growing interest.

Shape the Future
The Minnesota Cooperative Education Foundation is establishing the Cultivating Agricultural Educators Scholarship in honor of the significant cooperative and educational accomplishments inspired by William Nelson, recently retired vice president of Stewardship at CHS and president of the CHS Foundation.

Investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders is a key priority for CHS, and as such, CHS has generously offered $50,000 to begin an endowment for this scholarship, in celebration of those who have a deep commitment to agricultural education and its role in inspiring and preparing future leaders. When you give to the Cultivating Agricultural Educators Scholarship endowment, you help support teachers and youth who will directly impact the future of agriculture.

Scholarship Eligibility
The Cultivating Agricultural Educators Scholarship will be open in late 2022 to senior high school students and current college students who are majoring or minoring in ag education. The scholarship is available to students in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota. Applicants need not attend an institution of higher education in those states, but must be a resident of an eligible state. Preference would be given to individuals with cooperative experience and those who intend to teach in the scholarship’s eligible states.

Donate