Three Bumpers College Students Receive Highest FFA National Recognition

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Josie Kelly, one of the three Bumpers College Students to receive their American Degree.

During the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, three students from the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences received the highest degree available in the National FFA Organization.

Sophomore Josie Kelley and junior Austin Rowland, both from the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology, and McKayla Williams, a sophomore from the Department of Poultry Science, received their American Degrees during the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo.

To receive the American FFA degree from National FFA, students must meet the minimum qualifications such as: receiving their state degree; earning at least $10,000 and productively investing $7,500, or earning and productively investing $2,000, and working 2,250 hours more than scheduled class time; having a scholastic record of "C" or higher; and participating in at least 50 hours of community service.

To make it to the National FFA Organization, the applicant's state FFA association must submit state-approved applications.

Fewer than 1% of FFA members receive their American Degrees, which makes it one of the highest honors bestowed on a member.  

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.