Mississippi

USDA reinstates 1890 scholarship that helps Mississippi HBCU students study farming, food

Published

12 months ago

March 7, 2025

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USDA reinstates 1890 scholarship that helps Mississippi HBCU students study farming, food

The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which provides scholarships to students attending HBCUs for agriculture-related studies, has reopened its application process.
The program, suspended in February, was reinstated and is accepting applications until March 15.
The scholarships cover full tuition, fees, books, room, and board, with opportunities for work experience at various USDA agencies.
Nineteen HBCUs across the country participate in the program, which aims to increase diversity in agricultural fields.

The USDA has reinstated a scholarship program that gives students from underserved communities money to attend HBCUs for specific training, and the time to apply is now.

The 1890 Scholars Program was suspended in February, “pending further review.” The USDA later released a statement saying current recipients “over 300 — regardless of matriculation date, was retained to finish their studies and complete their work with the Department.”

The move was part of a directive by President Donald Trump to freeze, then review federal spending.

Last week, the site for the program was updated to say that the application process is open through March 15.

The program gave $19.2 million to scholarships for 94 students in fiscal year 2024. Per the USDA, it provided “full tuition, fees, books, room and board” to recipients.

Here’s what we know about the 1890 scholarship program.

What does the 1890 National Scholars Program do?

The funds, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), go toward increasing the number of students studying agriculture and related majors, animal science, botany, forestry and more. Nineteen 1890 land grant colleges, all Historically Black Colleges and Universities, are part of the program.

“The scholarship may also include work experience at USDA. The program is a crucial part of USDA’s Next Generation efforts,” the site for the program reads.

Which Mississippi HBCU is in the scholarship program?

Alcorn State University in Lorman is part of the program. It’s the country’s oldest land-grant HBCU.

According to a December news release from the school, a dozen students were selected to be part of the 1890 Scholars Program.

“As an 1890 Scholar, I’ve had an incredibly enriching experience that has provided me with unique opportunities for academic and personal growth,” Vinterrious Hunt said in the news release. “My most rewarding aspect has been the opportunity to network and work with like-minded peers and mentors, as well as obtain a job with USDA Farm Service Agency as a student trainee during school and as a full-time employee after I finish my BS degree. This program has not only enhanced my educational and career experience but also instilled a sense of purpose and confidence in my future endeavors.”

According to the release from Alcorn, students in the program could get the chance to work with several agencies, including:

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
Agricultural Research Service.
Farm Service Agency.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Rural Development.
U.S. Forest Service.
Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

Which HBCU schools get 1890 scholarships from the USDA?

According to the USDA, these 19 HBCUs are part of the program:

Alabama A&M University.
Alcorn State University, Mississippi.
Central State University, Ohio.
Delaware State University.
Florida A&M University.
Fort Valley State University, Georgia.
Kentucky State University.
Langston University, Oklahoma.
Lincoln University, Missouri.
North Carolina A&T State University.
Prairie View A&M University, Texas.
South Carolina State University.
Southern University, Louisiana.
Tennessee State University.
Tuskegee University, Alabama.
University of Arkansas Pine Bluff.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Virginia State University.
West Virginia State University.

How old is the 1890 scholarship program?

The program was created in 1992.

“As we work to build a future agriculture workforce that represents American society, USDA NIFA’s 1890 Scholarships Program is a critical component for success. Since the program was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, NIFA has invested $92 million to support 3,274 scholarships to help recruit, engage, retain, mentor and train undergraduate students at the 19 1890 Land-grant Universities.”

National Institute of Food and Agriculture Director Dr. Manjit Misra, in an October 2024 news release

When is the deadline to apply for the scholarship?

According to the site, people must submit their applications by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time Saturday, March 15.

Go to the 1890 National Scholars Program site to apply or get more information.

Who could qualify for the 1890 scholarships?

The program is open to high school seniors and rising sophomores and juniors at the college level. The application process was originally slated to be open through March 1.

The funds could be renewed each year, depending on academic performance.

According to the USDA, applicants had to meet the following criteria:

Be a citizen of the United States.
Have a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0 scale).
Have minimum test scores of 21 on the ACT or 1080 on the SAT.
Be accepted to attend or already be attending an 1890 land-grant university.
Major in one of the required topics.
Have a history of leadership, community service.
Submit an official high school transcript.
Write two essays on specific topics.

What are the essay questions?

Students have to write two 250-500 word essays for both of these questions, according to the USDA site:

“How will the USDA 1890 National Scholarship support your career aspirations? If there is a particular mission area within USDA that also supports your career aspirations, please indicate that mission area.
“What factors have influenced your decision to pursue academic studies in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or a supporting discipline (such as economics, computer science, accounting, etc.)?”

What do you have to study to qualify?

The USDA said scholars must study one of these majors:

Agriculture.
Agricultural Business/Management.
Agricultural Economics.
Agricultural Engineering/Mechanics.
Agricultural Production and Technology.
Agronomy or Crop Science.
Animal Sciences.
Botany.
Food Sciences/Technology.
Forestry and Related Sciences.
Home Economics/Nutrition.
Horticulture.
Natural Resources Management.
Soil Conservation/Soil Science.
Farm and Range Management.
Other related disciplines, (e.g. non-medical biological sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, computer science).

Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

Leaders throughout Mississippi remember JSU’s Elayne Hayes-Anthony

Published

11 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Leaders throughout Mississippi remember JSU’s Elayne Hayes-Anthony

Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony, a trailblazing journalist and educator, has died at the age of 72.
She served as a longtime professor at Jackson State University and was its acting president in 2023.
Hayes-Anthony broke barriers as the first Black woman to be an anchor, producer, and reporter at WJTV in Jackson.
Mississippi leaders, including the governor and Jackson’s mayor, are remembering her significant contributions to education and media.

Mississippi leaders and educators are remembering Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony as a trailblazing journalist, educator and public servant following news of her death Thursday, March 5.

Hayes-Anthony, a longtime professor and chair of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University and former acting president of the university, spent decades mentoring students and shaping communications education throughout Mississippi.

Jackson State University officials announced her passing in a statement Thursday morning. She was 72. A cause of death was not provided.

Hayes-Anthony served as interim president for eight months in 2023, between former President Thomas Hudson and Marcus Thompson. She became the first Black woman to work as an anchor, producer and reporter at WJTV in Jackson and later spent 17 years as chair of the communications department at Belhaven University. Hayes-Anthony also served as assistant superintendent of communications for Jackson Public Schools and served as the first Black woman and journalism educator to become president of the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters.

Jackson Mayor John Horhn praised Hayes-Anthony in a statement as a “proud daughter of Jackson and a distinguished graduate of Jackson State University who returned home to pour her knowledge back into this community.” Horhn also extended condolences to Hayes-Anthony’s husband, family, colleagues and former students.

“Our city mourns the loss of a trailblazer whose life’s work helped shape generations of communicators, educators, and leaders,” Horhn said in a statement. “As a pioneering journalist and the first African American woman to serve as anchor, producer, and reporter at WJTV-12, she broke barriers in Mississippi media and opened doors for countless Black journalists. Her leadership at Jackson State, from the classroom to the president’s office, reflected her commitment to excellence. Jackson is better because she chose to live, work, and lead here. We honor her legacy, celebrate her remarkable life, and pray for comfort and strength for all who are grieving this tremendous loss.”

Ward 4 Councilman and Jackson City Council President Brian Grizzell, a long time educator and alumnus of JSU, said he remembered Hayes-Anthony from several points in her life and career.

“I remember Dr. Elayne Hayes-Anthony from several stages of her remarkable journey,” Grizzell said. “I first knew her as a student in Jackson Public Schools, later as a student at Jackson State University, and we reconnected years later during her time serving as acting president of Jackson State University.”

Grizzell called Hayes-Anthony a pioneer in education whose work helped shape the lives of many students across the community.

Longtime Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson, also a JSU alum, honored Hayes-Anthony as a “a trailblazer in every sense of the word.”

See his post on Facebook below:

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also offered condolences Thursday via X, formerly known as Twitter.

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker also shared the following statement on Hayes-Anthony passing:

“Mississippi has lost a leader and pioneer, my friend Dr. Elayne Anthony. Jackson State benefited from her steady hand during a time of transition. She was revered by its students. The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters recognized her leadership by electing her chair. Elayne’s legacy of kindness, servant-leadership, and community service will impact generations to come.”

Investigative journalist Jerry Mitchell reflected on Hayes-Anthony’s impact on journalism in Mississippi.

“What a loss. Dr. Anthony was truly a champion for journalism. Her work produced so many talented journalists we have today in Mississippi and beyond,” Mitchell said.

State Rep. Zakiya Summers and Sen. David Blount, both of whom represent parts of Jackson in the Mississippi Legislature, also paid tribute to Hayes-Anthony.

Officials with the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Mississippi State Board of Health also shared condolences, noting Hayes-Anthony served on the Board of Health for nearly two decades.

“I personally grieve the loss of a very important Mississippian who cared deeply about education at all levels, public health, and very importantly the need for the health of our population to improve,” said Dan Edney, state health officer and executive director of the Mississippi State Department of Health. “She was a strong supporter of MSDH and for my work as State Health Officer and was one of our greatest cheerleaders. Her passing is a loss to public health and higher education leadership, but her service has helped to make our state a better place.”

Lucius Lampton, chairman of the Board of Health, said Hayes-Anthony’s service on the board began in 2007.

“Dr. Elayne Anthony’s long service on the Board of Health, which began in 2007, was exceptional and benefited the public’s health in countless ways. She led always with intellect, creativity and integrity. The Board of Health and our agency will so miss her gracious presence. I also will miss her dear friendship.”

Charlie Drape is the Jackson beat reporter. You can contact him at cdrape@gannett.com.

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Mississippi

Gas prices on Mississippi Gulf Coast jump nearly 60 cents in one day

Published

23 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices on Mississippi Gulf Coast jump nearly 60 cents in one day

BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) — Gas prices along the Mississippi Gulf Coast have jumped to nearly $3 a gallon, up from $2.41 just two days ago, according to AAA.

AAA said the increase is driven by two factors: the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has shut down a key Middle East oil route and prompted attacks on refineries, and a seasonal fuel blend switch that adds up to 15 cents a gallon on its own.

Uber Eats driver James Adams said he noticed the increase immediately.

“It actually jumped like 50 to 60 cents in one day,” Adams said.

Adams said the higher cost to fill his tank cuts directly into his delivery earnings.

“We’re working basically for pennies on the dollar already — and once you factor that in with traffic and the mileage you have to go — the gas is outrageous,” Adams said.

DoorDash driver Daniel Yelle said the spike will strain his weekly budget.

“I fill up about twice a week going to and from work and DoorDash — and that’s going to hurt my budget,” Yelle said.

FedEx driver Cecil Banks said there is little that workers can do about the rise in prices.

“As long as there is wars — the price of gas is going to go up for everybody — so it’s just an unfortunate situation,” Banks said.

Banks noted that even though Mississippi’s prices remain below the national average, not driving is not an option for working families.

“What can you do? A lot of people have families — they have to go get their kids — they have to go back and forth to work,” Banks said.

Yelle echoed that sentiment.

“They don’t pay us enough for the higher gas prices,” Yelle said.

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Mississippi

It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

It’s 2,350 miles long, spans 31 US states and is home to a 100kg animal with a tongue that looks like a worm | Discover Wildlife

The Mississippi River flows for around 2,350 miles through the heart of the US. It drains an area of 1.2 million square miles – that’s roughly 40% of the country – and at certain points is 11 miles wide. It is North America’s second longest river, behind the Missouri River.

Rising from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi winds southwards through a range of environments, draining water from 31 US states before reaching its delta at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

The sheer size of the river and the diversity of habitats it passes through make it a refuge for a huge range of animal species, including more than 260 fish, 326 birds, 50 mammals and at least 145 amphibians and reptiles, according to the National Park Service.

The Mississippi River flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: Rainer Lesniewski/Getty Images

There are many weird and wonderful animals living within the Mississippi’s vast waters, but surely one of the strangest is the alligator snapping turtle.

This prehistoric-looking reptile is massive. It can weigh up to 100kg and males can grow well over half a metre long, making it the largest freshwater turtle in North America.

And as if its size wasn’t enough, the alligator snapper has a host of other characteristics that make it one of the Mississippi’s most striking creatures, including a dark, spiky shell (known as carapace), a brick-like head and a sharp, hooked beak. With such a formidable appearance, it’s easy to see how the turtle got its ‘alligator’ name.

But perhaps the turtle’s most curious feature is a worm-like appendage found on its tongue, which it uses as a lure to catch prey, such as fish, amphibians and invertebrates. Alligator snappers are also quite happy scavenging for food.