A.L. Neumann Transfer Student Scholarship

Dr. A. L. Neumann and his wife, Lorena, made a gift to the University of Illinois Foundation to provide an annual scholarship to a student(s) who transfers from a community college to the animal sciences curriculum at the University of Illinois. Any transfer student enrolled in the Department of Animal Sciences who has completed at least one semester at the University of Illinois may apply for the scholarship. The scholarship will be based upon scholarship (25%), need (25%), and potential leadership in the animal industry (50%).

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Seth Mitchell, Senior from Olney, IL

Alex Edgar Beef Production Scholarship

The family of Alex Edgar has provided the University of Illinois Foundation with a monetary gift which provides for the annual presentation of the Alex Edgar Beef Production Scholarship to an outstanding junior or senior student enrolled in the College of ACES and interested in a career in the beef industry.

D.E. Becker Swine Industry Scholarship

The D. E. Becker Award in animal sciences is established to recognize an outstanding undergraduate animal sciences student with potential leadership and involvement in the swine industry. This award shall be selected by the Animal Sciences Undergraduate Honors Committee with input from faculty who work in the swine discipline. The award shall be given to a student based on their leadership, documented interest in the swine industry, and their academic achievements.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Joel Kieser, Junior from Bradford, IL
Austin Smith, Senior from Arenzville, IL

Dr. and Mrs. M.E. Ensminger Scholarship

The Dr. and Mrs. M. E. Ensminger Scholarship is a merit based scholarship awarded annually to an animal sciences undergraduate. Criteria used to help determine the recipient of this award includes academic achievement, leadership, extra-curricular activities, and character. Preference will be given to students from Southern Illinois with interest in food animal production.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Amy Sandschafer, Senior from Newton, IL

Dr. J. Wayne Rehn and Mrs. F. Jean Rehn Endowed Scholarships

These scholarships were established to recognize animal sciences students in their sophomore or junior year who excel in academics, leadership skills, and a commitment to production agriculture. Dr. Rehn spent over 30 years in a rural veterinary practice. He and his wife were leaders in 4-H and also developing funds to support veterinary students. They were also involved in many committees for the University of Illinois and also the State Veterinary Medical Association. Their two children were active in production agriculture and graduated from the University of Illinois.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Chessa Brown​, Junior from San Rafael, CA

Drs. Greg and Susan Aldrich Scholarship

Greg and Susan Aldrich each earned doctorates at the University of Illinois in the Department of Animal Sciences in 1995. With a lifetime of dedication and devotion to animals and education, Drs. Greg and Susan Aldrich wish to provide tangible support and encouragement to students pursuing careers caring for animals; all in an effort to give-back and perpetuate the University of Illinois experience.

Fran Callahan Scholarship for Excellence in Swine Judging

The Fran Callahan Scholarship for Excellence in Swine Judging recognizes the top swine judge each year from the University of Illinois' Livestock Judging Team, based on his/her performance at the American Royal and the North American International Collegiate Livestock Judging Contests.

Illinois Association of Meat Processors

The Illinois Association of Meat Processors provides two scholarships to upper-level undergraduates who have a strong interest in the meat industry. Undergraduates with an excellent academic record and who have taken meat science courses, worked at the Meat Science Laboratory, and/or have been on the Meats Judging Team, etc., will be strongly considered.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Joe Metz, Senior from Gridley, IL
Slayton Dorney, Senior from Lawrenceville, IL

John A. Killam Beef/Meat Science Scholarship

John Killam served as Director of Legislation for over 20 years for the Illinois Beef Association and the Illinois Association of Meat Processors. Upon his retirement in 1989, friends of John Killam contributed funds to support a scholarship for a student enrolled in the College of ACES who is studying in the beef cattle or meat science area. The scholarship will be based on scholarship (25%), interest and involvement in the beef cattle or meat science industries (50%) and other undergraduate activities (25%). The selection committee for this scholarship will consist of the beef cattle and meats extension specialist and instructors of beef production and a meat science course.

Merle E. LeSage Scholarship

The family, friends, and colleagues of Merle E. LeSage have created an endowment fund to provide a scholarship to undergraduates in the College of ACES. Preference for scholarship recipients goes to animal sciences students who have been members of the livestock and/or meat evaluation teams and to transfer students with experience in judging at the community-college level.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Lexie Walker, Senior from Danvers, IL

Paul E. and Rose A. Woodson Scholarship

The Paul E. and Rose A. Woodson estate has provided an endowment fund to outstanding junior or senior students enrolled in the Department of Animal Sciences. The Woodson scholarships are based primarily on academic achievement and potential leadership in the animal industry.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Alyssa Ruston, Senior from Lawrenceville, IL 
Mackenzie Wells, Senior from Nashville, IL
Kelly Sieja, Senior from White Heath, IL
Trenton Black, Senior from Norris City, IL
Gillian Gould, Senior from Palatine, IL
Kristine Witte, Senior from Orland Park, IL

Phil Rincker Award

This award is given in memory of Phil Rincker to a student who has been a member of the Livestock Judging Team and has a strong interest in the food animal production industries. The student should have evidence of good leadership skills. Preference is given to community college transfer students with a strong livestock judging background.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Hayden Keltner, Senior from Pearl City, IL

Richard and Charlotte Lundgren Scholarship

Recipients of these scholarships are upper-class students who have completed 60 or more college hours, have demonstrated academic merit in their studies, and are animal sciences majors with goals to be involved in food animal production.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Caroline Downey, Senior from Putnam, IL 
Nicole Moest, Senior from Lena, IL 
Megan Huelsmann, Senior from Breese, IL 
Hattie Duncan, Senior from Wingate, IN

Richard J. and M. Joan Epley Scholarship

The Illinois Association of Meat Processors provides two scholarships to upper-level undergraduates who have a strong interest in the meat industry. Undergraduates with an excellent academic record and who have taken meat science courses, worked at the Meat Science Laboratory, and/or have been on the Meats Judging Team, etc., will be strongly considered.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Lukas Aylesworth, Junior from Mount Pulaski, IL

Robert L. Douglas Purebred Cattle Scholarship

Robert and Marie Douglas, Douglas-Kalmar Farms, Robinson, Illinois, donated purebred cattle to the University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences for use in teaching programs and to develop income for undergraduate scholarship support. The sale of these purebred cattle provides for an annual scholarship to an outstanding junior or senior student enrolled in the Department of Animal Sciences and interested in a career in the purebred beef cattle industry. The scholarship will be based primarily on potential leadership and involvement in the purebred beef cattle industry.

Sleeter Bull Undergraduate Meats Scholarship

Students who have an interest in the livestock and meat industry are encouraged to apply for a monetary scholarship presented in memory of Sleeter Bull. The scholarship winners will be selected based on scholarship (30%), involvement in the meats and livestock industry (30%), undergraduate activities (particularly those related to meat science) (30%), and community and public service (10%). 

The scholarships are made possible from the proceeds of the annual auction of the Illinois State Fair Champion Ham, Bacon, and Processed Beef.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Lexie Chen, Senior from Tianjin, China

Verlin K. Johnson Meat Science Scholarship

Verlin K. Johnson, in memory of his wife, Ida Bruner Johnson, has provided two annual scholarships to ACES one in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the second in the Department of Animal Sciences. The animal sciences scholarship is presented to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated excellence in intercollegiate meats judging at the University of Illinois.

Waco W. Albert Meat Animal Evaluation Scholarship

The scholarship shall be granted to a student who must have a sincere interest in swine, beef cattle, or sheep. The student must have a tie to livestock judging/evaluation programs in which swine, beef cattle, and sheep have been judged by (a) having parents or grandparents who were members of University of Illinois livestock judging/evaluation teams, (b) being a member of a senior livestock judging/evaluation team at the University of Illinois, or (c) being a member of a 4-H or FFA livestock judging/evaluation team that represented the State of Illinois in national competition. The student must be enrolled (or intend to enroll if still in high school) in the Department of Animal Sciences or the Department of Human Development and Family Studies of the College of ACES.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Austin Smith, Senior from Arenzville, IL
Leslie Walker, Senior from Danvers, IL
Hattie Duncan, Senior from Wingate, IN

Waco W. Albert Memorial Equine Scholarship

The scholarship shall be granted to a student a) based on academic merit whose grade point averages (GPA) are above the average GPA of all students in the Department of Animal Sciences and b) who (1) show promise of future support for the equine industry in Illinois and the United States through efforts such as being a contributing member of a family that owns and breeds horses as a business or for pleasure; (2) participate in research, teaching, and extension; and (3) provide excellent professional support to the equine world.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Amy Marroquin, Senior from Chicago, IL

Janet R. Jackson and Mark A. Roos Scholarship

In 2015, Dr. Janet R. Jackson and Dr. Mark A. Roos from Columbia, Illinois, generously created an endowment to provide scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Department of Animal Sciences in the College of ACES.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Angela Zilinger, Senior from Minooka, IL
Kelsie Weisenberger, Junior from Aurora, IL

Bankson Judging Team Scholarship

This annual scholarship is provided to a student enrolled in the College of ACES who is majoring in animal sciences, food science, or another related area of study. First preference is given to a junior or senior student on the Meats Judging Team; and second preference is given to a student, including sophomores, if needed, on the Livestock Judging Team.

2020 Scholarship Recipient:
Natalie Shaw, Junior from Mount Carroll, IL

Harry G. Russell Senior Award

This award is presented to outstanding members of the Hoof-n-Horn Club in the Department of Animal Sciences. The awards are presented to the outstanding senior(s). The award is based on leadership and involvement in club activities.

2020 Scholarship Recipients:
Hayden Keltner, Senior from Pearl City, IL
Austin Smith, Senior from Arenzville, IL