NCGA William C. Berg Academic Scholarships
Scholarship Sponsored by National Corn Growers Association
Four national scholarships — many possibilities
The grower-members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) support expanding educational access for students committed to serving rural communities and sustaining family farms.
NCGA currently awards four national scholarships aimed at different student groups:
- Research students
- Technical school / community college students
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
Also explore scholarship opportunities offered by individual State Corn Associations.
Membership requirement
You must be an NCGA member to qualify for any of the national scholarships described below. To join NCGA, visit the NCGA membership page or contact your State Corn Association.
Eligibility requirements
- Applicant must be either an NCGA member or the child of an NCGA member.
- Employees of NCGA, BASF (or any BASF division), and their family members are ineligible.
- A completed application must be submitted by January 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.
- Scholarships are awarded for one academic year only. Previous national scholarship recipients are not eligible to reapply.
About the William C. Berg Academic Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship
This undergraduate scholarship is presented in partnership with BASF. For the Fall 2026 semester, five scholarships of $1,500 each will be awarded to undergraduate students enrolled in any field of study.
Application materials and instructions
Submit your application online for the NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence Scholarship for Fall 2026. Required materials:
- Completed online application
- Current resume
- Current academic transcript
- One letter of recommendation from a non-family member (recommended sources: faculty, an institutional staff member, or a mentor)
- One essay (500 words): “What are three significant challenges facing agriculture today? How would you address these challenges?”
Please read all instructions on the NCGA application portal and ensure your submission is complete by the January 31, 2026 deadline.