A dedicated alumnus of the West Virginia University Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design knows how his alma mater helped him succeed and he wants to do his part to make sure others see it as well – especially prospective students.
H. Stephen “Steve” Conrad and his wife, Jane, recently created the Conrad Farms Agriculture Scholarship to help recruit West Virginia’s most promising students to the Davis College.
“We wanted to give something back to a university that has been an integral part of our lives for many years,” Conrad said. “It’s also our hope that this scholarship will provide opportunities like we had to other students.”
The Pendleton County native certainly recognizes the value of education and the one he received at WVU.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences in 1964, Conrad spent almost 10 years as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Navy.
“The education and leadership skills I learned at WVU, and the Davis College in particular, allowed me to successfully compete against other aviators, many of whom either were Naval Academy graduates or had engineering degrees from other prestigious universities,” he said.
Returning to his roots in 1974, Conrad took over his family’s farm and has been an innovator and leader within the agricultural community. In recognition of his contributions, the Davis College’s Alumni Association presented Conrad with its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.
Given the many degrees within the college, the Conrads believe awarding the yearly scholarship is best left to college administrators.
“Our gift isn’t tied to a specific division or program,” he said. “It’s just as important to recruit qualified design students as it is animal sciences. We believe those who interact with the students on a daily basis should determine the recipients.”
The couple also hopes future recipients will see the value of higher education and its importance in preparing for the challenges of the 21st century.
According to Amber Hines, director of recruitment and retention for the Davis College, scholarship support like that from the Conrad family is crucial to recruiting the best and brightest students.
“Today, top quality students have many choices and are most likely admitted to multiple colleges and universities,” she said. “Being able to offer additional support and acknowledgement of their academic achievements can have a positive impact on their decision to attend WVU versus somewhere else.”
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be West Virginia residents, enrolled in the WVU Davis College and have demonstrated financial need. First preference will be given to an incoming freshman.
The first award will be made this spring for the fall 2013 semester. Current or future Davis College students interested in applying for the Conrad Farms scholarship – or others currently available – should visit http://www.davis.wvu.edu/future_students/financial_aid___scholarships. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
The scholarship was created in conjunction with A State of Minds: The Campaign for West Virginia’s University. The $750 million comprehensive campaign being conducted by the WVU Foundation on behalf of the University runs through December 2015.
