Van Deusen/MacKay Scholarship to Recognize Students with “Passion” for Sustainable Agriculture

Nancy Van Deusen and Sandy MacKay of Cobleskill have established and endowed a new scholarship at SUNY Cobleskill.  The Van Deusen/MacKay Scholarship will be awarded annually to a student in their third or fourth year of work on a bachelor’s degree who has demonstrated a strong interest in sustainable agriculture.  The student must have achieved a minimum 3.0 grade point average, and preference will be given to students Schoharie County residents and non-traditional aged students.

Nancy Van Deusen is a lifelong Cobleskill resident who has worked at SUNY Cobleskill for more than 25 years.   While she had her husband, Sandy MacKay, have talked for some time about establishing a scholarship, Ms. Van Deusen said recent appeals by SUNY Cobleskill Provost and VP for Academic Affairs Anne Myers “struck a chord” and prompted them to act now.  “We value education and SUNY Cobleskill as a vital part of the community in which we live and work,” said Ms. Van Deusen.  “We hope this scholarship can help someone attend SUNY Cobleskill and, maybe, even provide leadership in sustainable practice.”

Ms. Van Deusen’s undergraduate studies in general science and geology and minor in environmental studies demonstrated a long standing interest in the environment, and she has long been involved with promoting sustainable practice in both business and curricula at SUNY Cobleskill.  “I think global warming will shape our future with respect to how we live and even how we survive,” said Ms. Van Deusen.  “Recent news stories of recalls and threats to the food supply suggest there needs to be a change in the way we think of our food.  Sandy and I believe we, as a society, need to change how we view the whole agricultural system, and that education is key to that change.   Two of our children are working in sustainable agricultural endeavors, so it seemed a natural focus for us for this scholarship.”

Ms. Van Deusen and Mr. MacKay specifically targeted their annual scholarship to an upper level Schoharie County student at SUNY Cobleskill with the belief that upper level students have had the opportunity to gain clearer focus on their intended career and issues about which they truly care.  “We also recognize that it is sometimes harder for a non-traditional student to have the ability to go to college,” said Ms. Van Deusen.  “We would like to encourage the type of vibrant community where young people can stay to live and work, while keeping the rural nature of the county.  The scholarship may help in some small way.”

A $10,000 donation by Ms. Van Deusen and Mr. MacKay endowed the new scholarship.  That principal will be invested by SUNY Cobleskill Foundation.  Each year, a scholarship will be awarded from the proceeds of those investments, and any remaining proceeds will help the endowment grow.