Fillet Mignon Scholarship, is that real???
Yes there are all kinds of unusual scholarships
University freshman awarded Scholarship, Miss Angus crown
By: Dallas Duncan Posted: 2/5/09
For University freshman Katie Gazda, beef is a whole lot more than just "what's for dinner."
As the newly crowned Miss American Angus, she will spend this spring traveling across the country to various Angus beef shows to present awards and share information about the Angus beef industry. The contest, which includes a first-place $1,400 scholarship, was sponsored in November by the American Angus Association Auxiliary, an educational organization that promotes the involvement of youth in the beef industry.
"I wanted to be [Miss American Angus] since I was 5, because the first Miss American Angus from Georgia was crowned when I was 5," Gazda said.
Katie Gazda, Miss American Angus
The competition began with a national scholarship contest, in which 15 to 20 state finalists competed. The scholarship was open to high school seniors from states in the South, Midwest and Northeast, said Mary McCurry, the co-chair of the Miss American Angus contest and the 1971 Miss American Angus winner. Contestants had to be members of both their state Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association. The top five winners from that competition would then have the opportunity to compete for the title. The five finalists went through several more contests, including a personal interview, a speech on "The History I'm Making Today," two impromptu questions and a written test about the beef and Angus industries.
Gazda is no stranger to the industry. Her parents own the Gazda Cattle Company in Athens, and she has shown Angus cattle since age 9. She is also the vice president of the Georgia Junior Angus Association.
As a former Miss American Angus, McCurry knows well the internship qualities of the contest. Gazda has "risen through the top and come through the ranks" she said, and Gazda would "always be a voice for agriculture [and] a role model and mentor to youth."
"When you're awarded positions like this, they've seen something in you that's worth sharing," said Chris Morgan, assistant professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Gazda's academic adviser. "My gut feeling is that she'll represent us well."
Gazda said the contest could be a stepping stone to a future career.
"I do believe that my range of activities and interests make me well-rounded and would be beneficial to an employer when making the decision to hire me," Gazda said.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Gazda said she hopes to pursue a master's degree in agricultural communication at Oklahoma State University.
She said she wants to work for the American Angus Association or Certified Angus Beef in journalism or marketing.
http://www.angusauxiliary.com/scholarships/index.html
J.D. says: "The key to winning a scholarship is to eliminate as much competition as possible. In the case of the Angus Scholarship it was only open to members of the State Junior Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association thus eliminating a high percentage of the population."
Original article posted here.
