2024 Neil Dierks Scholarship

Applications are now closed for the 2024 Neil Dierks Scholarship. Stay tuned for the 2025 Neil Dierks Scholarship announcement around August!

 

The National Pork Industry Foundation (NPIF) is pleased to announce the 2024 Neil Dierks Scholarship, which is sponsored by the National Pork Industry Foundation and is managed and administered by the National Pork Producers Council.


One $5,000 scholarship is annually awarded to a student who intends to pursue a career in the pork industry with hopes that they may emerge as a future pork industry leader.


To be eligible, applicants must:

 

  1. Be a current or (applied for acceptance) graduate student in a swine program.
  2. Prepare a cover sheet with the following information:
    • Name of applicant
    • Name of school that you completed undergraduate degree and degree title
    • Name of school enrolled for graduate work
    • Contact information (email address, cell phone number and home and school mailing addresses)
  3. Share their understanding of at least one issue confronting the pork industry today or in the future, including how the applicant would address it.
  4. Write a brief letter indicating what role the applicant sees themselves playing in the pork industry after their graduate program degree.
  5. Obtain two letters of reference from current or former professors or industry professionals.

 

Essays will be judged based on clarity and expression, persuasiveness, originality and relevance of topic.

 

All entries must be sent by December 31, 2023 to be accepted.

 

Please submit your application either through the online form, email to russelll@nppc.org or send materials in a single envelope to:

 

National Pork Producers Council
ATTN: Neil Dierks Scholarship
P.O. Box 10383
Des Moines, IA 50306-9960

 

The recipient of the Neil Dierks Scholarship will be announced at the National Pork Industry Forum in Chicago, Illinois on March 5-7, 2024. NPIF reserves the right to publish any or all parts of the essays submitted.

 

Please contact Lucy Russell, NPPC Manager of Producer Engagement, with any questions about the scholarship at 515-864-7983 or russelll@nppc.org.

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If your current or former professor or industry professional would rather submit their letter of reference directly to NPPC, please have them email it to russelll@nppc.org with “Neil Dierks Scholarship” and your name in the subject line.
Accepted file types: doc, pdf, docx, dotx, dot, Max. file size: 600 MB.
If your current or former professor or industry professional would rather submit their letter of reference directly to NPPC, please have them email it to russelll@nppc.org with “Neil Dierks Scholarship” and your name in the subject line.
Neil Dierks

Neil Dierks Scholarship

For more than 30 years, Neil Dierks devoted himself to the well-being of U.S. pork producers. As CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, he encouraged, challenged, supported and equipped members as they advocated for opportunities in trade as well as reasonable regulation. In times of trial and triumph, Neil provided insight born from experience as well as study. His servant’s heart and the tenacity necessary to ensure success combine to benefit producers of all sizes and philosophies. Above all, Neil nurtured leadership for the pork industry, seeking out and elevating talented persons with a variety of skills to serve as resources and decision-makers for today and tomorrow.

Neil’s 2021 retirement created an opportunity to honor his contribution to the U.S. pork industry and legacy as a leader, through the Neil Dierks Scholarship.

— The National Pork Industry Foundation Board