USDA's 1890 Scholars Program Fuels Local Graduate's Career in Food Security

The 1890 National Scholars Program, run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), supported students like Kristina Edwards. She joined the program in her senior year of high school and became an 1890 Scholar the next year at Prairie View A&M in Texas. The scholarship covered her tuition, room, board, and books, providing her financial stability to focus on her studies.

Kristina aimed to address chronic diseases in her family through nutrition and dietetics. Her internships at the USDA Economic Research Service and the Farm Service Agency expanded her skills, particularly in data analysis, which she now uses in her current job.

The program helped Kristina connect with USDA liaison Horace Hodge at her university, who mentored her during and after her academic career. This mentorship is part of the program's goal to maintain long-term support for students.

Kristina's experiences with the 1890 Scholars Program helped her grow personally and professionally, providing her with skills she applies in her current data analytics role at a humanitarian organization focused on food security.

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