May 2012 – Scholarship Recipients: Where are they now?

Hello CCTA! My name is Teddi Nichols and I have been a CCTA scholarship recipient for three years. Because my dad, Doug Nichols, is a member of CCTA, I was able to apply for the scholarships. I received my first scholarship as a senior at Santa Paula High School in 2009 and have received one every year since.

After high school, I attended Ventura College, a community college about fifteen minutes away from my home.  I knew as a senior in high school that I wanted to attend university at some point but figured out that in the long run community college was the best way to go financially. In the two years that I was at Ventura College, I completed the general education curriculum. 

After a year and a half at Ventura College, I applied to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo and CSU Fresno.  I was accepted to both but knew that Cal Poly was the only place for me.  I have been at Cal Poly for almost a year now and absolutely love it.  I am a junior in the Agriculture Science program with a focus in agriculture education.  I hope that at the end of my education to be an agriculture teacher at the high school level.

I became interested in being an agriculture teacher when I was in high school, where I was in the Agriculture Academy and Future Farmers of America (FFA).  As an FFA member, I not only raised an animal but I also was involved in the numerous competitions, fundraisers, service projects, and was an officer at my chapter and section level.  FFA was not the only factor in me choosing this career.  I love agriculture and know that there are many people in this state and country that truly don’t understand the importance it plays in our lives.  I am constantly advocating and voicing the importance of agriculture and know that being a teacher will give me the opportunity to continue this.  I can’t wait to be in the classroom teaching about agriculture.

This brings me back to the three scholarships I have received.  As many of you may know, college is expensive.  There is tuition, fees, books, and everything in between that always seems to be way more than it needs to be.  With the economy being the way it is, everyone has felt the effects including the universities.  Prices and fees just keep rising.

Scholarships are a way for the student to receive help financially without being worried about the price they will pay later.  I have been blessed to be able to receive these scholarships and no matter the amount I have received, the scholarships have made a huge difference in continuing my college education.  Thank you to everyone who makes these scholarships possible.