hbcu

Arionne Patterson has come a long way since learning about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 1890 National Scholars Program during a presentation hosted at her high school in Fresno, California. As a result of pursing her agricultural dreams and the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, Patterson obtained her Agriculture Business degree at Prairie View A&M University and her master’s degree at Purdue University.

USDA has a long history of investing in and supporting our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The 19 HBCUs established under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, along with the two HBCU land-grant universities established in the original 1862 legislation – University of the District of Columbia and University of the Virgin Islands – are a critical link in ensuring public access to agricultural education, research, and outreach programs are equitably distributed to all Americans. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports research at these institutions with both capacity and competitive funding.