NCERC Grad Assistant Receives Scholarships from RFA and NCGA
News Release
Contact: Claire Weinzierl
cweinzierl@ethanolresearch.com
Office: 618-659-6737 ext. 260
EDWARDSVILLE - For the second year in a row, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) was honored to see one of its own recognized with scholarships from the agriculture and ethanol industries. NCERC Graduate Assistant Krista Russell was recognized twice in February, receiving the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) National Ethanol Conference scholarship as well as the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship award.
Russell’s academic background, experience, extracurricular achievements, and all around passion for the industry have already positively impacted agriculture, an impact that is sure to grow alongside her career.
While pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Systems and Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Russell maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and Dean’s List Honors. She has been honored with several prestigious awards including an American FFA Degree, the Illinois FFA State Degree, and the Illinois Agriculture Association Foundation’s Top Scholar award, and nominated by her peers to represent the College on the SIU Homecoming Court.
During the summer of 2018, Russell worked as the Education and Marketing Intern at NCERC.
Today, Russell is pursuing her Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she is working as a graduate assistant on the Fueling Growth: E3 USDA project to extend agriculture education and outreach in Southern Illinois. Russell started at SIUE in January 2019.
Russell was recognized as a scholarship winner in February at the RFA National Ethanol Conference and at the NCGA Awards Banquet at Commodity Classic, both in Orlando.
“Being chosen as a recipient for both of these scholarships is truly an honor. I am beyond thankful that I have had the opportunity to experience both of these events within the past month,” Russell said. “The experiences and opportunities I had as a scholarship winner provided me with knowledge and skills that will greatly benefit me as I complete my Master’s degree and in my future career.”
Russell would like to express her thanks to the RFA, NCGA and BASF for sponsoring her scholarships.
“Thank you to the SIUE faculty for being supportive of my current endeavors and for being flexible to allow me the opportunity to attend both of these experiences,” Russell said. “Thank you to my parents for all of their continued support.”
About the NCERC
The NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The Center’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space. For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge, (618) 659-6737 ext. 230, cbreckenridge@ethanolresearch.com, or visit http://www.ethanolresearch.com.
