Sunrise Cooperative announced on May 6 the recipients of its 2026 College Scholarship Program, awarding fifty $1,000 scholarships to students connected to the cooperative’s members and employees.
The scholarship program aims to support future leaders by investing in education for children and grandchildren of common stockholders and employees. Sunrise Cooperative received a total of 210 applications this year, with forty scholarships going to families of stockholders and ten to families of employees.
According to Sunrise Cooperative, over the past decade more than $550,000 has been awarded through this initiative. The program is open to students pursuing any field of study who have a parent or grandparent affiliated with the cooperative. Applicants were required to submit an essay on an agriculture-related topic; entries were reviewed by Terra State Community College before finalists participated in phone interviews for final selection.
“We are honored to support the future leaders of our communities,” said George D. Secor, President/CEO of Sunrise. “The Sunrise College Scholarship Program is an important way we give back to the families who support our cooperative, while also investing in the next generation. With the continued support of our Board of Directors, we’re proud to provide students with a meaningful opportunity to take the next step toward their education and career goals.”
Sunrise Cooperative contributes not only through scholarships but also by investing in educational initiatives, youth programs and health efforts in Ohio’s rural areas; it maintains modern facilities across Ohio for agronomy, energy, feed and grain operations; it is fully owned by farmers and collaborates with CHS Inc.; it focuses on providing innovative options for its member-owners; operates under a board elected by farmer-owner members; and extends its operations from Lake Erie to the Ohio River serving producers statewide—all according to information provided on the official website.
The announcement highlights Sunrise Cooperative’s ongoing commitment toward supporting local communities through education as well as fostering leadership among young people connected with agriculture.
