Creating a brighter tomorrow—together—during virtual "Giving Thanks for Scholarships" event

"I would not at all be in the place I am today if it wasn't for people like you who believe in me and my future aspirations." –Heidi Hoffman, scholarship recipient and Animal Science student

Giving Thanks for Scholarships is the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences’ annual stewardship event bringing together scholarship donors and the students they support. This year’s theme for the virtual event was “Creating a Brighter Tomorrow—Together,” and featured remarks from student scholarship recipients, a Cargill scholarship program representative and CFANS Dean Brian Buhr, as well as student-donor breakout rooms for conversation.

Emcee Adam Nance, chief development officer for CFANS, welcomed guests to the virtual event and gave a message of encouragement and thanks to the students and donors in attendance. 

"It can be difficult to impress upon young people just how much the rest of us are rooting for you. You may have noticed that the world is desperately in need of new ideas and innovative solutions. That’s why people who you’ve never met have given money to invest in your future,” said Nance. 

Arion Hutchinson, a first-year student majoring in Environmental Science, Policy and Management, spoke as a student scholarship recipient.

“It is almost indescribable the impact scholarships have had and will continue to have on my life, and I would assume for all of the other students here tonight. They've allowed me to pursue a goal that I believe is important and that I have dreamed of being a part of for much of my life. I'd like to thank you for allowing me to be a part of the shift in global awareness toward a more climate-focused, sustainable economy and society,” said Hutchinson.

Maxwell Lohse, a student scholarship recipient and double-major in Forest and Natural Resource Management and Urban Studies, spoke about the impact of receiving scholarships.

“I wasn’t sure that I could go to college. Neither of my parents, nor anyone in my extended family, really went to college. So when the time came, navigating the process felt insurmountable. I wasn’t sure what I could realistically afford. With this generosity, I’ve been able to achieve things in my undergrad I didn’t know I was capable of when I came in,” said Lohse.

Sarah Euston is the University & Early Career Recruiting Team Lead for Cargill and shared remarks on Cargill’s THRIVE program that supports students at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, College of Science and Engineering and CFANS.

“Navigating post-secondary and trying to figure out next steps is often challenging enough. The youth of today have particularly been impacted by all of this, sometimes struggling to navigate amidst so much uncertainty and turmoil, and yet they represent our future for which we will all come to depend on in the years to come. With our shared purpose in growing a brighter tomorrow, together, we at Cargill are proud to have had the opportunity to partner with the U of M over the past year and a half in developing our Cargill University THRIVE program,” said Euston.

Thank you to all of our scholarship donors. Your generosity makes it possible for students from all backgrounds to come to the University of Minnesota and pursue their dreams. Thank you for making a difference in their lives—and through them, the world. Together, we truly are growing a brighter tomorrow. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about supporting CFANS student scholarships, please contact Heather James at james932@umn.edu or 612-624-4285.