Coastal AgroBusiness is pleased to announce the 2015-2016 recipients of the J.C. Whitehurst, Jr. Agricultural Scholarship. The NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) has selected Mitchell Austin Wrenn and Nashea Nicole Williams to receive this honor.

Mitchell Austin Wrenn of Zebulon, NC is a senior majoring in Agricultural Business Management with double minors in Horticultural Science and Crop Science. Having grown up on a family farm in Nash County where strawberries, greenhouse tomatoes, sweet corn and butter beans are the main crops, Austin has continued his interest in strawberry production practices through his work in the Crop Science department. Before he returns to his family’s farm, he plans to pursue a graduate degree in strawberry research with a focus on developing advanced techniques for off-season production.

Nashea Williams of Clinton, NC is a senior majoring in Plant and Soil Science with a concentration in Crop Production. To expand her education in agriculture from a global perspective, Nashea participated in a study abroad program last spring in Costa Rica to learn more about food security and sustainability. Nashea is interested in plant breeding and says that she “hopes to someday work in research and development to develop crops that more efficiently use resources like water and nutrients”.

Both of these outstanding students have expressed their gratitude for their scholarship. Nashea wrote to us “your contribution means such a great deal because I can focus on my education and building a successful career in agriculture rather than stress over finances”. And Austin added that one day, he hopes “to make a difference just as

[Coastal AgroBusiness] has by investing financially in the education of the new leaders in the agricultural industry”.

In its third year, this merit-based scholarship is awarded to two qualified students who are pursuing degrees related to agriculture or agribusiness in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The scholarship was established to invest in the potential of bright students, who will be tomorrow’s leaders in an important industry which greatly impacts the economies of NC, SC and VA. For more information about the scholarship, please visit our scholarship page.