By Courtney Girgis, Future Ag Communicators Committee co-chair
Maddie Weber, a double major in agricultural communications and agronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, received the 2026 Dr. James Evans Scholarship from Ag Communicators Network during this year’s Ag Media Summit in St. Louis.
The Dr. James Evans Scholarship is ACN’s top scholarship awarded in the amount of $3,000 to an undergraduate student and ACT member who exemplifies the dedication and commitment of Dr. Evans, who had a tremendous impact on the establishment and growth of agricultural communications programs.
This year, 15 students from 10 colleges applied for ACN scholarships.
Weber was one of three finalists who were selected to interview in person at AMS. Finalist selection was based on internships and career-related experiences, writing skills, leadership activities, academic achievements, and a reference recommendation as demonstrated through a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, writing sample, and letter of recommendation.
“Receiving the ACN Dr. James Evans Scholarship is an achievement I am so immensely grateful for,” Weber says.
The two runner-up finalists each received the ACN Past Presidents Scholarship in the amount of $2,000. This year’s Past Presidents Scholarship recipients are:
- Mindy Wells, agriculture and natural resources communications major, advertising and public relations minor, expected to graduate May 2027
- Tayla Wiedeman, agricultural communications major at Texas Tech University, expected to graduate May 2028
Weber says attending Ag Media Summit allowed her to share her passion for agricultural communications and connect with ACN members, as well as Wells and Wiedeman.
“[Wells and Wiedeman] are both skilled individuals who I am excited to work alongside in this industry in the future,” Weber says. “I know this scholarship will help me have even more opportunities to grow as a communicator as I enter my senior year of college. I am so grateful for ACN’s continued support of ag communications students like myself.”
The Dr. James Evans Scholarship is made possible through an endowment made by ACN member Lyle E. Orwig. The Past Presidents Scholarships and travel stipends of up to $1,000 for each of the scholarship finalists to travel to and attend AMS are made possible through a grant from the Professional Improvement Foundation. Thank you to all who give!
Information on the 2027 ACN Scholarship Program is expected to be available in early 2027 at www.agcommnetwork.com/awards-contests/student-scholarships.
Courtney Leeper Girgis is a freelance writer at Rooted Communications.