Fitness influencer Emily Schaapman (@DairyGirlFitness) and Pennsylvania dairy farmer Jessica Peters (@SeeJessFarm) will be featured as mentors in the first week of the 2024 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program, beginning September 9. The program offers more than $20,000 in scholarship awards for undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional students, collegiate clubs, and classes. Participants can also enter a referral contest for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Program Success and Sponsorships
In 2023, CAO participants significantly boosted their confidence in communicating about agriculture, with average confidence scores rising from 6.5 to 9.0 out of 10 after completing the program. Dairy Management (DMI), a platinum sponsor, is returning to support the program in 2024. Lisa McComb, SVP of communications at DMI, emphasized the importance of CAO in preparing the next generation of agricultural communicators and leaders for their future careers.
CAO Program Overview
The program includes two divisions: individual and club. In the individual division, students receive virtual mentorship from experts and farmers, like Peters and Schaapman, who will provide tips on creating effective social media content. The club division offers both virtual and in-person activities, with groups completing challenges such as the "Undeniably Dairy" challenge, where students collaborate with local dairy farmers to promote dairy's nutritional benefits on campus.
Students participating in CAO can improve their communication skills, network with professionals and compete for scholarships. Top participants will be invited to the Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit in Arlington, VA, for national recognition.
For more details or to sign up, visit the CAO website.
