RVGA's Board of Directors Scholarship

THE 2026 SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT IS $2,000! The application period for 2026 is closed - thank you to everyone who applied.

APPLY FOR A $2,000 SCHOLARSHIP – IT’S QUICK AND EASY!

The Rondout Valley Growers Association (RVGA) awards one annual Board of Directors Scholarship to a college-bound high school senior based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and their plan to pursue an education related to agriculture and/or local food systems. The scholarship can be used to defray the cost of tuition, room and board, books, and other academic charges. Graduating seniors from all school districts within the Rondout Valley are welcome to apply.

The scholarship application period will open on January 7, 2026. At the end of the application period, the Board of Directors Scholarship Committee will carefully and thoughtfully review each application. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded and a check will be mailed. The scholarship will be awarded to the selected applicant only once and is not renewable, nor can the recipient apply for future RVGA Board of Directors Scholarships. If deemed appropriate, the RVGA reserves the right to award a second scholarship to another qualified applicant – in an equal or lesser amount – pending approval from our board of directors.

To qualify for the scholarship, you must be:

A graduating high school senior from a Rondout Valley school district or homeschool program with a GPA of 3.0 or above
Enrolled at an accredited college or university for the fall of 2026
Majoring in a course of study with relevance to agriculture or food (e.g., dairy science, animal science, veterinary science, agricultural technical program, ag communications, cooking school, etc.)
Able to provide at least one recommendation from a teacher or community member (other than a family member)

*Applicants cannot be related to any RVGA board or staff member

If you have any questions about the scholarship, please contact Office@RondoutValleyGrowers.org.

If you would like to donate to support our Board of Directors Scholarship Fund, please click here.
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Our 2026 scholarship will be given in honor of John Novi, who passed away in mid-2025. John served on the RVGA’s Board of Directors for many years and was instrumental in the success of many of our community and fundraising events.

John was a chef/owner/restaurateur who was internationally celebrated as one of the founders of New American cuisine. Locally, the High Falls native is also known as a tireless advocate for the preservation of family farms and Hudson Valley history. His generous donations of catering services to agricultural, arts, educational, environmental, and historic group fundraisers made him a hero to many local non-profits.

While many people know of John Novi’s meteoric path to culinary stardom, many don’t know that as early as 1966, he was on a mission to protect the D&H Canal and formed its first Board of Directors. He was also instrumental in securing a grant that helped transfer this historic building to the D&H Canal Society.

Board of Directors Scholarship Application

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Year

Name(Required)

First Last

Birthday(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Mailing Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code

High school (or homeschool program) from which you are graduating(Required)

How long have you attended your school?(Required)

How long have you lived in the Rondout Valley?(Required)

What is your GPA?(Required)

At which college are you enrolled for the fall of 2026?(Required)

What major do you intend to pursue?(Required)

What is your experience with agriculture (including any relevant community service you may have done)?(Required)

Why do you feel you should receive this scholarship? Please submit 250 - 500 words.(Required)

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you and why receiving this scholarship would be impactful to you?(Required)

Attach your official high school transcript, proof of enrollment/your college letter of acceptance, and at least one letter of recommendation here.(Required)

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By checking this box I acknowledge the following:

My official school transcript, proof of college enrollment, and at least one recommendation letter are a required part of my application and are attached.
Submitting my application does not guarantee that I will be chosen as the scholarship recipient.
All Scholarship Committee decisions are final.
This is a one-time scholarship and will not be renewable.
If I am awarded this scholarship, it is to be used toward my higher education costs only and for no other purpose.
If I am selected as the scholarship recipient, I give consent for my name to be used publicly for marketing and fundraising purposes.