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John E. Brown Scholars Program

John Brown Scholars are a collection of highly motivated students from various backgrounds who are eager to take part in a program that exposes them to the corporate side of agribusiness.

2009 Scholars

First row: Becky Schneider, Katie Jarboe, Julia Shuck, Krista Bock, Whitney Wallace, Brett Naylor, Cheryl Ficken.
Second row: Jacob Woolston, Ed Cope, Grant Schwader, Jeromie Allen, Brant Mettler, Adam Keene, Michael Manson, Dana Burkemper. Absent: Joe Tvrdy

About the Program

The John Brown Scholars Program was initiated in 1983 by John E. Brown, a prominent St. Louis agribusinessman. The program allows 16 qualified upperclassmen in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) to spend a week in January visiting with St. Louis agribusiness firms.

The 16 students are divided into groups of four and assigned to a host firm. During this week, the students are in personal contact with business executives and have the opportunity to become acquainted with how professionals interact in a business setting. This experience provides students invaluable perspectives on themselves and the agribusiness sector. It helps them to clarify career goals and see up-close applications of their classroom educational experiences.

The students participate in evening lectures or seminars throughout the week. Various resource people are invited to interact with the students during these sessions. Each evening is devoted to a subject chosen to supplement other experiences.

The networking opportunities and real-life experience I gained at John Brown have made a lifelong impact that has accelerated my personal and professional development.

— 2009 John Brown Scholar

Objectives

The primary objective of the John E. Brown Scholars program is to integrate a student's classroom education with the realities of the business environment. In addition, students will be exposed to challenges facing the businesses and how employees interact in order to accomplish the organization's goals.

Financial Support

Financial support for the week's activities is provided by the MU John E. Brown Scholarship Fund, the Ag Foundation, Ag Alumni Association and former John Brown Scholars. St. Louis business firms provide support by defraying the cost of some meals and providing the time of their personnel. Students are expected to bear a small portion of their participation costs.

Program Requirements

John Brown Scholars must:

Be of junior or higher standing (at least 60 hours completed by end of fall semester) and enrolled in CAFNR.
Have a 2.5 minimum GPA while enrolled at MU.
Be available the entire week of the program (Jan. 10-15, 2010).
Have completed Ag Econ 1041 and 1042. (Ag Econ 2183 is highly recommended.)
Submit:

An updated resume.
List three references
A cover letter addressing the following:

What you hope to gain from the program?
What three unique qualifications can you bring to the program?

Applications are due by noon, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 in 2-64 Agriculture Building.