2024 CTAEF Scholarship now live!
Our 2024 scholarship application is now live! The application deadline is June 1st, 2024.
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation awards scholarships to Connecticut student(s) each year who are pursuing a career in agricultural education and/or have goals to further agriculture across the state. The scholarship can be used to defray the cost of tuition, room and board, books and other academic charges.
2023 CTAEF Scholarship Recipients
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation was excited to award four scholarships in 2023 to the following deserving Connecticut students.
Matthew Syrotiak, of Bethlehem, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Matthew graduated from Nonnewaug High School in 2021 and currently attends UCONN majoring in Animal Science. Matthew has been a leader in the Connecticut FFA Association as their National Officer Candidate and National 4-H as a representative on a National Board. At UCONN, Matthew has been a student worker in the Academic Programs Office and at the Kellogg Dairy Center. He has also been a member of the UCONN 4-H Dairy judging team, 4-H Teen Council and UConn Dairy Club. When he is not educating others he is home at the farm, part owner of Cabin Acres Farm and is a student member of the Connecticut Farm Bureau. He wants to pursue a career as an agricultural or extension educator.
En-Ming Holtz, of East Lyme, Conn., was awarded a $750 scholarship. En-Ming graduated from East Lyme High School this spring and is attending Cornell University this fall with a major in Animal Science. En-Ming participates in 4-H and has won numerous awards in breed shows and showmanship along with honey and photography. En-Ming volunteers for the East Lyme Giving Garden and New London County 4-H Fair Board. En-Ming wants to pursue a career as a large animal vet.
En-Ming Holtz (Left) and Matthew Syrotiak (Right) with Martha Johnson, CTAEF President (center)
Alyssa Tatro, of Canaan, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Alyssa graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School this spring and is attending State University of New York Cobleskill. Alyssa participates in is the Housatonic FFA chapter and is currently the chapter President along with the Veterinary Science CDE. She currently works at a small horse farm in Falls Village, CT. She wants to pursue a career as an agricultural educator.
Amy Wiknik, of Middletown, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Amy graduated from Middletown High School this spring and is attending UCONN this fall as a STEM Scholar. Amy works on a horse farm Bear Paw Barn. Amy has held two FFA Officer positions – President and Secretary and also was an FFA Agriscience Fair National Finalist in 2021. She is currently the Middlesex and New Haven County 4-H President and won the 4-H Leader Award for Middlesex and New Haven County in 2020. Amy also is a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association. She wants to pursue a career as a farm manager/owner.
Congratulations to each of these deserving students and best of luck in your future endeavors!
2022 CTAEF Scholarship Recipients
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation was excited to award two scholarships in 2022 to the following deserving Connecticut students.
Becca Syme, of Broad Brook, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Becca graduated from East Windsor High School this spring and is attending UCONN this fall majoring in Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems. Current agricultural groups that Becca participates and/or is a leader of are her 4-H Dairy club (the Merry Moo-ers), Hartford County 4-H Fair Association, UConn Dairy Club, and UConn Block and Bridle. She wants to pursue a career as an agronomist.
Shelby Bellows, of Brooklyn, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Shelby graduated from Killingly High School this spring and is attending Quinebaug Valley Community College this fall. Shelby will be transferring to Virginia Tech in fall 2023 to study dairy science with pre-veterinary focus. Shelby previously participated in the Killingly FFA Chapter and 4-H. Shelby also works at Creamery Brook Bison while also managing her own Holstein cows and flock of hens. She wants to pursue a career as a large animal vet.
2021 CTAEF Scholarship
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation was excited to award three scholarships in 2021 to the following deserving Connecticut students.
Justine Allyn, of Canaan, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Justine graduated from Housatonic Valley Regional High School in spring 2021 and is attending Virginia Tech majoring in Dairy Science. She aims to practice corporate and contract law for agricultural businesses.
Annabelle Caswell, of Waterford, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Annabelle currently attends UCONN with a major in Science, Sustainable Plant and Soil Systems and will be graduating in December 2021. Annabelle plans to pursue her Master’s degree in Sustainable Environmental Planning and Management. After graduation, she aims to work for the CT Department of Environmental Protection and UCONN Extension.
Esther Rose-Wilen, of New Haven, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Esther has her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in Environmental Science and a minor in Spanish. She currently works for Gather New Haven and will be pursuing her Masters in Agroecology, Rural Development and Agrotourism at Miguel Hernandez University (UMH) in Spain and plans to return to CT once she graduates and dedicate her career to agricultural education.
2020 CTAEF Scholarship
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation was excited to award four scholarships in 2020 to the following deserving Connecticut students.
Beth Christensen, of Windsted, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. She will be attending Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts as she works toward a career working with botanical gardens and sustainable agriculture. She aims to work in hydroponics and other forms of indoor food production as she is passionate on providing food to a rapidly growing population.
Maggie Mae Baldwin, of Falls Village, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Maggie is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University. To further develop Maggie’s agricultural business experiences, she is also the secretary of Tri-State Veterinary Services. After completing her degree, she aims to continue working with businesses whose efforts support the animal agriculture industry.
Margaret Brady, of Easton, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Following her graduation from Trumbull High School, Margaret is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Margaret is heavily involved with Sigma Alpha, a professional agricultural sorority and also plans on getting involved with Collegiate FFA. She aims to earn her master’s in Agricultural Education and work as a high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor.
Sara Tomis, of Preston, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Sara currently studies Agriculture and Natural Resources with a minor in Agricultural Learning and Outreach at the University of Connecticut. In addition to her scholastic studies, she has two internships with UConn Cooperative Extension, where she contributes to outreach education in 4-H Youth programming and Healthy Homes & Disaster Preparation programming. She aims to pursue a career in Extension or within a secondary institution after earning a master’s degree as she has a passion for agricultural outreach.
2019 CTAEF Scholarship
The Connecticut Agricultural Education Foundation is excited to award four scholarships in 2019 to the following deserving Connecticut students.
Emily Syme, of Broad Brook, Conn., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship. Emily graduated from Rockville High School in the spring. She will be attending the University of Connecticut this fall as she works toward a career as a plant pathologist/breeder. She aims to pursue a job conducting research focusing on diseases in plants and how to treat them.
Christina Ciampa, of Vernon, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Christina also graduated from Rockville High School in the spring, and plans to attend Westfield State University this fall to study animal science. Christina’s involvement in both FFA and 4-H have inspired her career plans to become scientific researcher focused in animal and livestock diseases. She hopes to create genetic solutions using innovative technology to benefit both animals and humans.
Jada Wilson, of Lakeville, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Jada currently studies animal science at the University of Connecticut, where she is also member of the Block and Bridle livestock club and Dairy Club. Recently, she was elected as next year’s “Ag in the Community” Chair for the professional agricultural sorority Sigma Alpha. She is passionate about advocating for agriculture and hopes to pursue a career in agricultural education.
Joey LaFlamme, of Granby, Conn., was awarded a $500 scholarship. Following his graduation from Suffield High School this past spring, Joey will begin his studies in natural resource conservation at the University of Maine in the fall. He aims to secure a career in law enforcement while working with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Congratulations to each of this year’s recipients and best of luck in your future endeavors!
Click here to find out what past scholarship recipients are up to now.
For further information about CTAEF scholarships, please contact Martha Johnson at martha@ctaef.org.