Oklahoma Student Wins NWTF’s National FFA Scholarship

The NWTF has awarded Cooper Sherrill, of Fairfax, Okla., a $5,000 National FFA Collegiate Scholarship.

Sherrill will graduate valedictorian of his class at Woodland High School, where he has maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average throughout his high school career. He plans to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology/ecology.

To be eligible for the $5,000 National FFA Collegiate Scholarship, administered by the NWTF, applicants must support the preservation of North America’s hunting heritage, actively hunt, possess strong leadership skills and have experience working or volunteering in their community.

Sherrill served as president of his local National FFA Organization and his high school honor society, and was a member of his high school basketball team, the National FFA Organization, 4-H and the National Honor Society.

An avid hunter who enjoys pursuing wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and coyotes, Sherrill said his love and respect for the land and wildlife make him want to ensure future generations enjoy hunting.

He also earned the Oklahoma State FFA degree and an Academic Excellence Scholarship and the Gibson Scholarship from Oklahoma State University. Sherrill was recently chosen for the F.I.T. program through the College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University.

“This scholarship will help me further my dreams of working with wildlife,” said Sherrill. “I am so honored to receive it.”

To date, the NWTF has sponsored over $80,000 in National FFA Organization scholarships and has contributed more than $186,000 to the organization at the state and local levels.

Christine Rolka, NWTF education director said, “The shared commitment to support outstanding students like Cooper Sherrill has solidified our 12-year relationship with the National FFA Organization. Without question, college-bound students can count on the NWTF’s continued support of future conservation leaders’ educational and career goals.”

The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. This year alone, 130 sponsors provided 1,639 scholarships worth more than $1.9 million. There were more than 8,000 total applicants.

For more information about NWTF academic scholarships, call (800) THE-NWTF, email scholarshipinfo@nwtf.net or visit www.nwtf.org/education.

National Wild Turkey Federation

The National Wild Turkey Federation is the leader in upland wildlife habitat conservation in North America. The NWTF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations throughout North America, spending more than $331 million to conserve nearly 16 million acres of habitat. Wild turkeys and hundreds of other species of upland wildlife, including quail, deer, grouse, pheasant and songbirds, benefit from this improved habitat.

The NWTF also brings new conservationists and hunters into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES youth outreach programs. Our dedicated NWTF volunteers introduce about 100,000 people to the outdoors through these programs every year.

Founded in 1973, the NWTF is headquartered in Edgefield, S.C., and has local chapters in every state and Canada. According to many state and federal agencies, the restoration of the wild turkey is arguably the greatest conservation success story in North America's wildlife history.