Scholarships awarded to eastern Washington FFA members

COLFAX – Preceding the start of the virtual Washington State FFA Convention, the National FFA Organization and National FFA Foundation announced recipients for its 2020 scholarships. Eastern Washington FFA members were well represented in awards.

Of the 1,324 scholarships that were awarded nationwide, five of the recipients came from eastern Washington. More than 6,800 students completed the application process, each with the potential of being considered for multiple scholarships.

The recipients include Gunnar Aune, Colfax, with a $1,000 Ford Trucks/Build Ford Tough Scholarship; Paiton Kirpes, Colton, with a $1,000 Ford Trucks/Build Ford Tough Scholarship; Lauren Stubbs, LaCrosse, with a $1,500 America's Farmers Grow Ag Leaders Scholarship; Jessica Swain, Cheney, with a $1,000 Ford Trucks/Build Ford Tough Scholarship, and Ellie Gerin, Lind-Ritzville, with a $1,000 John Deere/RDO Scholarship.

Also in this year's state convention digital guidebook, Timothy Harder, LaCrosse, is recognized as a district star and is a state star finalist.

Scholarships totaled $2,027,288 from 398 sponsors and donors. These scholarships can range from $500 to full tuition for four years. These scholarships are available for two-year or four-year degrees, as well as vocational programs.

The FFA scholarship program began in 1984 with offering just 16 scholarships. Since then more than $51 million have been awarded in scholarships.

For upcoming graduating seniors interested in applying for 2021 scholarships, the application will become available through the FFA online scholarship portal in late October.

The first virtual session for the state convention concluded on May 9. The remaining sessions will go as follows: session two May 10-16, session three May 17-22 and session four May 26-June 1.

For each session, the first day will hold a 3 p.m. session preview.

The virtual sessions can be viewed at either facebook.com/washingtonffa or washingtonffa.org/90.