Thank you for your interest in the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial assistance to graduating seniors pursuing degrees that enhance rural communities. The information on this page is intended for applicants, high schools, community organizations and others who help promote the scholarship, support student applicants or would like more detailed information on the scholarship process.
Resources for Applicants
To apply for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship, please review the eligibility requirements and application requirements on the Apply page. Included below are additional resources that we hope are helpful to you as you complete the application. We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about your interest in helping advance the field of agriculture and our rural communities.
Two (2) Personal Statements: The personal statements provide an opportunity for your voice to be present during the application review process. Not only do we review your personal statements to gain a further understanding of you as a student, but we also use it to gauge your writing ability as well. We encourage you to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to write, review and proof your personal statements.
The personal statements are completed through an online form. Upon successful submission of the scholarship application, you will receive an email with a link to complete the personal statement requirements. You can prepare your personal statements prior to completing the online form; you may copy and paste content into the form.
Personal Statement 1 (word limit: 600): Please tell us more about yourself, including your background and past experiences that have impacted who you are today and your interest in agriculture. Please share with us your career goals and future plans, including how you will use your college degree to benefit your community or another rural community after you graduate. Lastly, share with us why you believe you are qualified to receive the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship.
Personal Statement 2 (word limit: 200): How do you intend to help your local agricultural community in the future?
Extracurricular Activities: You’re a busy student, and we want to know where you’ve been dedicating your time. We ask that you share with us a listing of extracurricular activities, including clubs/organizations, volunteerism, leadership positions, honors/awards received, etc., including dates. Include all items that you feel are important to your success as a student outside the classroom. There is no minimum requirement to the number of extracurricular activities in which you participate.
You will receive a link to complete the extracurricular activities requirement after completing the online application. You can submit your extracurricular activities any way you prefer. We have included two examples for your reference.
- Extracurricular Example 1 (grid format)
- Extracurricular Example 2 (list format)
Two (2) Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation are extremely important in the scholarship review process. We encourage you to obtain one (1) letter of recommendation from a FFA advisor, agriculture teacher, 4-H leader or agriculture-related employer. Recommendation letters from guidance counselors, school principals or other employers are also encouraged. Please share the scholarship website with your recommenders as there are resources and helpful information for them included here.
We encourage you to plan ahead for your letters of recommendation. School leaders, advisors, employers and teachers are all very busy and are likely writing letters of recommendation for other students as well. Plan ahead and share with them the specifics of this application and why you are applying. The letters of recommendation are used to gain another perspective of each student applicant.
When completing the online application, you will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of your recommenders. Each of your recommenders will receive an email with a unique link to use to complete and submit the recommendation.
Official High School Transcripts and ACT/SAT Scores: As part of the application requirements, a high school official will need to submit your transcripts and ACT/SAT scores. ACT/SAT scores submitted by your school are considered official. You do not need to request ACT/SAT scores be sent to the scholarship office directly from ACT/SAT.
Share the Lutsey.org scholarship website with your school guidance counselor, principal or other authorized official who will help you in submitting these requirements. There are resources available for high schools through the website.
Financial information: All students applying for the scholarship must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit the Student Aid Report (SAR) to the scholarship office. This process can take a few weeks for application processing and information to become available, so we encourage all applicants to begin the FAFSA process immediately.
To help with the process of completing the FAFSA and submitting the SAR, please reference the Financial Information Requirements document. You only need to submit the one-page SAR. Do not submit your entire FAFSA.
The scholarship does require financial need as determined by the FAFSA, through demonstrating an EFC of $20,000 or less. However, families with an EFC greater than $20,000 are still encouraged to apply. We invite you to share with us more information about your family financial situation. We will take all families into consideration and understanding your personal situation as it relates to the FAFSA and EFC will be helpful for us to do so. Please review the Financial Information Requirements document for more information.
Resources for High Schools
Official High School Transcripts and ACT/SAT Scores: All students are required to have an authorized high school official submit official transcripts, including ACT/SAT scores. The student applicant will identify a school official as part of the application. The school official will be sent an email with instructions and a unique URL for uploading these required academic records.
Information for Recommenders: Thank you for providing a recommendation letter on behalf of a student applicant. Having you share your interaction and experience with a student applicant is invaluable for the scholarship committee.
Please use the recommendation letter to share anything you think is important for the scholarship committee to know about the student applicant, including academic information, leadership skills and abilities, work experience, agriculture-specific work or experience, student background, extracurricular activities, personal characteristics and other items you feel are important.
When completing the online application, the student will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of their recommenders. You will receive an email with a unique link to use to complete and submit the recommendation.
Scholarship Info Sheet: Know a student who may be a good match for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship? Download this information sheet and share it with him or her. This information sheet provides an overview of the scholarship, including eligibility, requirements and deadlines.
Resources for 4-H/FFA or Community Organizations
Information for Recommenders: Thank you for providing a recommendation letter on behalf of a student applicant. Having you share your interaction and experience with a student applicant is invaluable for the scholarship committee.
Please use the recommendation letter to share anything you think is important for the scholarship committee to know about the student applicant, including academic information, leadership skills and abilities, work experience, agriculture-specific work or experience, student background, extracurricular activities, personal characteristics and other items you feel are important.
When completing the online application, the student will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of their recommenders. You will receive an email with a unique link to use to complete and submit the recommendation.
Scholarship Info Sheet: Know a student who may be a good match for the Thomas H. Lutsey-Waseda Farms Scholarship? Download this information sheet and share it with him or her. This information sheet provides an overview of the scholarship, including eligibility, requirements and deadlines.
Resources for Recommenders
Information for Recommenders: Thank you for providing a recommendation letter on behalf of a student applicant. Having you share your interaction and experience with a student applicant is invaluable for the scholarship committee.
Please use the recommendation letter to share anything you think is important for the scholarship committee to know about the student applicant, including academic information, leadership skills and abilities, work experience, agriculture-specific work or experience, student background, extracurricular activities, personal characteristics and other items you feel are important.
When completing the online application, the student will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of their recommenders. You will receive an email with a unique link to use to complete and submit the recommendation.