BRAE Department Scholarships
Each year, the BRAE department offers the scholarships listed below. For more information on individual scholarships and amounts, please contact the Financial Aid Office. Please apply through the "Cal Poly Scholarships" link available in your Cal Poly Portal.
Daisy J. Hudson Scholarship
Cal Poly BRAE has offered new students in Tulare and Kings County as well as continuing current students (with minimum GPAs) scholarship awards of the Daisy J. Hudson Agricultural Irrigation Career Scholarships.
Daisy J. Hudson, a life-long resident of Porterville in Tulare County knew from her career experience in farming and as General Manager of the Sausalito Irrigation District, that agriculture's two most important assets are water and people. This and her appreciation for women and minorities from rural backgrounds, led her to establish the Agricultural Irrigation Career Scholarships at Cal Poly.
These scholarships provide needs-based financial assistance to deserving students from Tulare and Kings Counties who through undergraduate studies in the areas of irrigation, water science and water engineering at Cal Poly, intend to pursue active careers in jobs in the key area of water.
2023 Daisy J. Hudson Scholarship Announcement
Merriam Endowment Scholarship
Professor Merriam was an internationally known irrigation consultant who taught at Cal Poly for 20 years. His students, both here and abroad, remember him for his inspiration and dedication to teaching. Professor Merriam and his family established the Merriam Endowment for Irrigation and Water Management within the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department at Cal Poly. The endowment provides assistance to faculty and students in the field of irrigation. Cal Poly will always appreciate all of the guidance and support that Professor Merriam showed to both Cal Poly and the BRAE Department. Student scholarships are in the form of covering the cost of busses for field trips for the water classes.
Provost and Pritchard Scholarship
Established in 1968, Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group has established a tradition of engineering and consulting excellence in the San Joaquin Valley. With office locations in Fresno, Clovis, Visalia, Bakersfield, and Oakdale, the firm features a mix of seasoned engineering veterans, complimented by younger professionals with fresh ideas and the most up-to-date technical skills.
Provost & Pritchard is an employee-owned company that specializes in civil and agricultural engineering, environmental and land use planning, hydrogeology, dairy design and permitting, and surveying services in the areas of water resources, municipal infrastructure, agriculture, site development, and environmental compliance.
The vision of Provost & Pritchard is to be the premier diversified engineering and related services firm in Central California by:
- Living our values
- Stable, secure and fun workplace (employer of choice)
- Attract and retain best clients (consultant of choice)
- Growing and profitable
- Community involved and responsible
Currently, Provost & Pritchard employees about 20 Cal Poly BRAE Department graduates. For the Cal Poly BRAE scholarship, P&P looks for students with a demonstrated interest in irrigation, good technical and writing skills, and strong leadership qualities. Applicants are encouraged to articulate their academic achievements and express how they have been inspired to achieve their educational/career goals. Students must be recommended for the scholarship by the irrigation faculty at Cal Poly.
For more information, visit www.ppeng.com or email info@ppeng.com. Thank you letters should go to:
Kevin R. Johansen, P.E.
Provost & Pritchard Engineering Group, Inc.
286 W. Cromwell Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711-6162
Phone: (559) 449-2700
Fax: (559) 449-2715
e-mail: kjohansen@ppeng.com
website: www.ppeng.com
USBR Mid Pacific Region Water Users Conference Scholarship
The Mid Pacific Region Water Users consist of managers, Directors, O&M Personnel, Consultants, and Government Agency Representatives from irrigation districts served by the United States Bureau of Reclamation Facilities in California, Nevada, and Oregon. Members of the water districts raise over $6,000 annually to support this scholarship.
Guidelines:
- The scholarship amount will be $2,500.00 for a 2nd-year student.
- Additionally, if the student maintains their GPA and major, they would receive $1,000.00 for the next 2 years so there are always 3 students in the scholarship cycle.
- The Cal Poly ITRC staff will select the recipients from the annual BRAE applicant pool and then inform the committee of the scholarship recipients.
- The selection will be a student involved in the field of irrigation. The selection will also consider GPA, leadership, and merit in the final selection.
Thank you letters should go to:
Jane Townsend
WUC Scholarship Committee
1521 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 441-2272
Fax (916) 446-1063
IDC Scholarship
The staff of IDC Inc. concentrates on providing growers in California’s Central Valley with quality agricultural irrigation systems and unparalleled service. There are locations in Dos Palos, Linden and Patterson.
IDC Inc. specializes in drip/micro irrigation, solid-set sprinkler systems, filtration, electrical, and pump stations. IDC boasts a number of Certified Irrigation Designers who can focus on designing sustainable turn-key systems for over 10,000 acres of agricultural commodities each year.
Students are eligible with a demonstrated interest in irrigation, good academic records, and strong leadership qualities. Students must be recommended for the scholarship by the irrigation faculty at Cal Poly.
Thank you letters should go to:
Will Pruitt
Irrigation Design and Construction
P.O. Box 1412
Patterson, Ca 95363
CAIA Scholarship
The California Agricultural Irrigation Association Scholarship was organized to give aid to students with a desire to pursue a career in the agricultural irrigation industry.
Who is eligible?
- High school seniors or undergraduate students who are residents of California entering or attending a two or four-year accredited college or university in California
- Student must be considered a full-time student by their institution
- Students with a major/concentration in agriculture with the intent to pursue a career in the irrigation industry
Each year, the CAIA Board of Directors will determine the number of scholarships and the award amounts depending on the funds available. Scholarship awards average $1000 for the academic year. In addition, scholarship recipients will automatically receive student memberships in CAIA for the duration of their scholarship period.
Preston Pipelines Scholarships
Preston Pipelines which started in 1970 in the Bay area as one-man irrigation-line repair service and is now a leading underground pipeline contractor in the Bay area and Valley. As a company, they are committed to building strong customer relationships based on outstanding service, integrity, and quality. A number of our students have gone to work for Preston Pipeline and this year they have funded scholarships for a deserving BRAE and ASM student
Lionel Middlecamp Memorial
Lionel Middlecamp was the Cal Poly Farm foreman for 30 years. This scholarship was established in 1994 in his memory. The scholarship is awarded to students that are BRAE majors and maintain a strong GPA.
Joseph P. Silveira Memorial
Joe Silveira was an alum in Mechanized Agriculture (now Agricultural Systems Management), and former President of Farmland Management Services (FMS). FMS supports an annual scholarship for a "hard-working" Agricultural Systems Management student with a high GPA.
Paul Etchechury Memorial
Annual award for junior or senior students majoring in BioResource and Agricultural Engineering.
Eric Twist Memorial
Annual scholarship selection based on need, project, interest in University activities and scholastic attainments. Scholarship started 1975. The Eric Twist Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate students specializing in the field of Mechanized Agriculture or Agriculture Engineering.
Don Nikkel Memorial
The Don Nikkel Memorial Scholarship was established in 1979 in honor of Don Nikkel, a BRAE graduate and founding member of the Cal Poly Tractor Pull Club. The scholarship is for a student majoring in BRAE who is of high moral character, active in department clubs and campus activities, and shows professional interest.
BRAE Dept. Scholarships funded by CP Tractor Pull Endowment
The Tractor Pull Endowment funds scholarships for hard-working students who have stepped up to help when needed, and set an example for other students in their ability to get the work done. These students are not necessarily members of the Tractor Pull Club.
Michael T. Andrews – Best Capstone Project Awards
The Michael T. Andrews Best Capstone Project Award was established and first awarded in the spring of 2000 in memory of BRAE graduate Michael Andrews. It is awarded to students for completion of exceptional senior projects. Students must demonstrate individual and team mastery as determined by the BRAE Department.
Mary Ann & Ed Carnegie Scholarship
The Mary Ann and Ed Carnegie Scholarship was generously established in 2007. Dr. Ed Carnegie headed the BRAE Department from 1982 to 1995 and helped make it what it is today. The scholarship is awarded to support BRAE and ASM students selected for their GPA, initiative, demonstrated leadership, and unique contribution to the Department.
Richard Cavaletto Scholarship
The Richard Cavaletto Scholarship was established 2021 in recognition of his retirement. Dr. Caveletto Served as a Professor and Department Head of the BRAE Department before moving to Associate Dean for the College. He influenced the careers of many, and shaped the department into what it is today. The scholarship is awarded to support BRAE and ASM students selected for their GPA, initiative, demonstrated leadership and unique contribution to the BRAE Department.
Michael, Virginia, Charles and Margaret Ross Family Scholarship
Charlie Ross graduated from the BRAE department in 2017 with a passion for agricultural mechatronics. The Ross family created this scholarship to support high-performing BRAE and ASM students with demonstrated interest, abilities, and potential in the field of agricultural drones and robotics. Students must be sophomores or above with at least three-quarters of school remaining.
George Daniels III Scholarship
George Daniels III graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 1968 with a degree in Agricultural Business Management. The George L. Daniels III Scholarship was established by George's colleagues at Farm Employers Labor Service, the California Farm Bureau, and his family in honor of George's 35 years of leadership in Agricultural Labor, Personnel, and Safety. This scholarship supports sophomore, junior, and/or senior Agricultural Systems Management majors.
James F. Merson Memorial Award
James Merson was the first department chair of BRAE. His family set up this scholarship in his memory. The scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student in the BRAE Department who is in their junior year, is a student that shows academic achievement, demonstrated interest in the College, and participates in the department co‐curriculum. This scholarship was established in 1970.