1890 National Scholars Program Offers Career Opportunities to Determined Students

Lincoln University USDA Liaison Dr. Adrian Hendricks poses with four newly awarded LU scholars after taking their oaths of office in Washington D.C.

The 1890 National Scholars Program is more than a scholarship — it’s an opportunity for top students to jump-start their careers and get hands-on experience in the agriculture industry.

And the deadline to apply for the program is rapidly approaching. The last day to apply for the scholarship is March 15.

Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the 1890 National Scholarship provides a full-ride (4-year) scholarship to any of the nineteen 1890 land-grant universities in the United States, including Lincoln University (LU). The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, room and board.

Those benefits are typical of full-ride scholarships. What makes the 1890 Scholars Program special is its internship and employment opportunities.

Each student who makes it into the program will be selected by a sponsor agency from the USDA. That sponsorship includes the opportunity to participate in a summer internship with that agency where students can gain hands-on experience working alongside federal employees.

Sponsoring agencies will bring their selected scholars to their duty stations to expose them to that field, introducing students to that agency’s overall mission and giving them time and experience in each department in that agency.

This system gives students a well-rounded perspective on what work in their area of expertise looks like.

Five LU students are currently enrolled in the program interning at four USDA agencies: the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service, Rural Development and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

These USDA internships are enriching for scholars and help them build relationships, gain critical hands-on experience and see practical applications of their studies.

Lincoln University students pose with USDA Liaison Dr. Adrian Hendricks and show off their matching LU shirts at an agriculture conference in Chicago, Illinois. 

Internships are typically completed in two summer sessions — about 320 hours each — for a total of 640 hours. Upon completion of the internship — and graduation — students are eligible to transition into full-time employees at their agency.

The program functions as a career placement pipeline designed to bring students into the agriculture industry. This is particularly important right now as the number of retiring baby boomers rises, creating a demand for new recruits in the industry.

Collin Ankton, of Cordova, Tennessee, is one of those new recruits who recently graduated from LU. He was an 1890 National Scholar, as well as a member of the Ag Club and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources & Related Sciences group.

Now, Ankton works for NRCS and is doing better than ever. His journey is a shining example of how the program is intended to function. He started as a scholar, completed his internship, graduated, transitioned into a career, worked for a few years in the southeast part of the state and finally returned to Jefferson City to work at NRCS headquarters.

Since returning to Jefferson City, Ankton has supported LU students and the program and has continued to share his experience with the 1890 National Scholars Program.

According to Dr. Adrian Hendricks, USDA liaison at LU, the 1890 National Scholars Program is also unique in that it helps teach students about public service and the connections between the USDA and other markets. He said there isn’t an industry the USDA doesn’t touch.

“Everyone needs food," Hendricks said. "Everyone needs safe food. No business could exist without the USDA. It’s critical to the infrastructure of the country.”

He said students feel that significance for the first time when they go to Washington D.C. to get sworn in as “federal employees.”

The swearing-in is part of the onboarding process for students in the 1890 National Scholars Program, Hendricks explained. He said the opportunity to see the government at work first-hand and take their oaths are pivotal moments in scholars’ journeys.

“It’s where they really understand how big of an opportunity they have and how fortunate they are to be a part of this program,” Hendricks said. “When we took the last group, it wasn’t until they raised that right hand amongst all of the leadership of the USDA with students from around the country that it really sunk in for them how special that moment was.”

USDA Liaison Dr. Adrian Hendricks speaks with LU students at a Chicago, Illinois, conference.

Hendricks added that there is a noticeable change in students when they return from D.C. He said it inspires them to become better students — or students who are learning with an objective.

“They understand that their classwork, and how well they do in the classroom, is going to add to what’s happening on a national scale, and that’s important," Hendricks said. "So, they become more focused, better students because of this experience."

Before students go to D.C., they are new scholars going through the day-to-day of classes. When they embark on the trip, they realize what the program is truly about — becoming part of the infrastructure of the United States.

“So they rise to the occasion,” Hendricks said.

Applications

Applications are open to college freshmen and rising sophomores, as well as high school seniors.

Learn more about the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program Application requirements. 

Applications undergo three levels of review. First, Hendricks reviews them for eligibility. Then, university staff do a second pass on students the university is willing to accept. From there, applicants are put into a selection pool where their degree type and university are displayed, and USDA agencies review and select applicants to sponsor.

In 2024, over 300 high school and college students applied for the program nationwide. Only 94 students received the scholarship.

Of those applicants, 16 were LU students. Hendricks hopes that number will double this year.

For any questions regarding the 1890 National Scholars Program, please contact Dr. Hendricks at (771) 201-1822 or Adrian.Hendricks@usda.gov.