NASCOE has two Scholarship Programs available to NASCOE Members for themselves, their children, spouse or legal dependant(s), providing that all other eligibility requirements are met.

 The traditional NASCOE Scholarship Program is provided to the children, legal dependants, and spouse of eligible NASCOE Members.  This award may only be used to defray expenses for a student at an accredited school.  Applicants must be a NASCOE member, member’s spouse, member’s child, or member’s legal dependent.  The NASCOE member’s dues must be paid and membership kept current for the past 5 years, or since becoming a permanent FSA County Office Employee.  The evaluation criteria are based on ability, incentive assistance, and other personal characteristics.  Nominations for Scholarships are competitive.  Area winners are selected from State entries (Note:  Some States have their own Scholarship program and use their own application; Thus the NASCOE scholarship application must be submitted along with your State application for consideration for the NASCOE Scholarship Program), and each Area awards $1,500.00.  The National winner is selected from Area winners, and the National winner receives $2,500.00.  The time schedule contained in the NASCOE Awards/Scholarships booklet must be followed.

Still in it’s infancy is the new NASCOE Members Scholarship Program.  This is a special NASCOE Scholarship award that will be awarded to NASCOE Members that are taking additional college credits to further enhance their careers within the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Each Area will be allowed to award one scholarship winner $200.00 to broaden their portfolio for adult education courses to enhance and advance their careers within FSA.

Jim and Teresa Mace (JM Marketing) believe so highly in the opportunities that higher education can bring to each and every one of us that they have generously donated $800.00 towards the NASCOE Members Scholarship award program!   Please consider taking a few minutes from your studies and complete the nomination form to compete for the award!   The deadline to submit the scholarship application to your Area Scholarship Chairperson is January 15, 2010.  Though I am not the NASCOE Benefits Chairperson, I am a proud NASCOE Member that is taking advantage of the group rate premium discounts on many products offered to us exclusively through JM Marketing!  Check it out.  You will be amazed at how helpful the “live” person is on the end of the phone when you call with questions, and how fast your benefit check arrives should you ever need it!  Without JM Marketing on our side, it would be very difficult to cover the expenses of the NASCOE Scholarship programs.  Please take advantage of the benefit packages JM Marketing has made available to you, and in turn help fund the scholarship program.  Who knows, one day your new doctor may thank you for being a NASCOE Member and helping him/her make it through school with the generous scholarship award!

Each year during the NASCOE Convention we hold an auction of items donated from virtually every state in the Country.  These funds in addition to the generous donations from JM Marketing help to cover many of the scholarships paid out annually.

However, many people/groups/associations prefer to donate directly to the NASCOE Memorial Scholarship fund in the Memory of loved one that believed in the benefits of higher learning.  If you and/or your association/group wish to make a donation to the NASCOE Scholarship fund in Memory of a loved one, please send the donation directly to the NASCOE Treasurer at:

Shelly Odenkirk, NASCOE Treasurer

Wooster, OH  44691

The applications are in a fillable format for your use.  We have also included all of the eligibility requirements and filing deadlines on the applications so you do not have to flip between multiple web pages.  If you need additional information the current edition of the NASCOE Awards/Scholarships Handbook is also posted on this site, and/or you may ask your Area Scholarship Committee Chairperson or myself for assistance.

I wish you the best of luck and I truly hope you like the look and ease of the new NASCOE Scholarship application forms!

Tom Oasen, NASCOE Awards, Scholarships & Emblems Chairperson