IA awards scholarships to 18 students

The Irrigation Association, Fairfax, Virginia, announced the winners of the 2022 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program. In its sixth year, the program awarded 18 scholarships to recipients studying and pursuing careers in the irrigation field.

Rain Bird is the exclusive sponsor of the scholarship program through 2026 to honor Rain Bird’s late president and CEO, Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra.

The 18 students are from colleges and universities around the nation and are enrolled in associate to graduate programs with an irrigation focus. The scholarships, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, were awarded based on the candidate’s letter of intent, financial need, resume, list of irrigation courses and letters of reference.

Since the program’s inception in 2016, 107 students have been awarded scholarships. In 2022, Molly Biggs and Megan Nelson were recognized as the 2022 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra scholars, a special designation awarded to the top two winners each year.

The following are the winners of the 2022 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program:

• Molly Biggs, Kansas State University
• Megan Nelson, Kansas State University
• Gavin Barnes, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Troy Bowman, Cincinnati State
• Luis Cortes, California State Polytechnic University Pomona
• Kristopher Criscione, Louisiana State University
• Juanita Diusaba Yusunguaira, Walla Walla Community College
• Matthew Gallegos, California State University, Fresno
• Kade Graham, Oklahoma State University
• Sheila Grubb, Spokane Community College Agriculture
• Ethan Hester, University of Georgia
• Mary Logan Tostenson, University of Georgia
• Kade McGinn, Kansas State University
• Emily Sarantopulos, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• Emily Scruggs, Clemson University
• Erika Sos, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
• John Van Vliet, California Polytechnic San Luis Obispo
• Hannah Williams, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

The 2023 Anthony W. “Tony” LaFetra Scholarship Program will open this fall with a deadline of Feb. 15, 2023. To learn more about program requirements and the application process, visit the IA’s website. Contact the IA workforce development department at workforcedev@irrigation.org or 703.536.7080 with any questions.