Category: Undergraduate Students
Planting the seeds of success
July 11, 2023 Written by AJ Rubinetti | Photos courtesy of Maci Carter
Rising UD senior benefits from scholarship to pursue agronomy career
“Hard work pays off.” That’s the life motto for University of Delaware student Maci Carter. Thanks to some hard work during her time at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the rising senior has been named as one recipient of the Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement scholarship. They give the award to students living in the Mid-Atlantic region majoring in agriculture to help them pursue a career in the industry. The scholarship ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, with Carter receiving the highest amount.
The non-profit was formed by Horizon Farm Credit, an agricultural cooperative and financial lender serving farmers from Delaware to West Virginia.
“They’re definitely a great organization and business that offers these scholarships to students that deserve it,” explained Carter of Harrington, Delaware. “It’s great that they set aside this money for students to advance in their careers.”
Carter is one of 23 recipients and one of a handful of students to receive the award twice. Carter cites a change of heart in her academic interests, leading her to apply again. After initially pursuing a career in agriculture education, she switched gears to the field of agronomy and added a plant science major on top of her agriculture and natural resources major. She credits her time at UD with giving her the opportunity to showcase her new passion to the foundation.
“I was really able to show growth in myself and my education, so I’ve definitely changed since the last time I applied,” emphasized Carter, who also serves as president of the Sigma Alpha Professional Sorority and was the Delaware FFA state vice president. “I showed my research, my past internships and classes, and how they’ve impacted me to want to study plant science now.”
Over UD’s 2022 Winter Session, Carter’s research project investigated the effect of saltwater intrusion on plant germination, landing her an internship with the UD Center for Food Systems and Sustainability. Outside of UD, she interned at Willard Agri-Service. It is these experiences and more that Carter highlighted in her application for the scholarship, which she urges anyone studying agriculture in the region to apply to.
"I'm not surprised that Horizon Farm Credit chose Maci for this scholarship not once, but twice,” said Noёl Wolhar, Associate Director of Undergraduate Student Recruitment. “She is the ‘total package’ agriculture student. A passionate student, leader, and educator, Maci embodies the bright future of agriculture in Delaware and beyond."
Aside from a newfound regard for soil science, UD will also give the rising senior an opportunity to explore her passion abroad. In 2024 Winter Session, Carter joins UD’s storied study abroad history as part of the Landscape Exploration of Brazil program, which she says would not have been possible without the aid of Horizon Farm Credit.
“I took this as a sign to apply for study abroad in Brazil,” revealed Carter, who serves as an ag ambassador for the college. “I’m super excited because I wouldn’t have been able to afford this opportunity without the scholarship.”
As UD marks 100 years of their landmark study abroad program, Carter could not be happier to have the opportunity to go ahead for the first time to study what she loves. Led by Susan Barton and Zachary Hammaker, the four-week program is based in Rio de Janeiro featuring an excursion to the Amazon rainforest. There, Carter and her classmates will examine the interactions between humans and plants through landscape design. Students take both Representation 1: Landscape Drawing (LARC103) and Plants and Human Culture (PLSC100).
“I definitely wanted to do it because it’s with my department [Plant and Soil Sciences]. I already know the professor that is in charge and obviously it would benefit me since it’s through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” Carter mentioned. “I’m never going to have this opportunity again.”
Until then, Carter will expand her repertoire with Horizon Farm Credit.
“So far, I have already learned a lot at Farm Credit and I shadowed employees in various positions and worked on group projects with the other interns. They are definitely helping me out big time.”