Eight students bound for college this fall are recipients of the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship, North Carolina Farm Bureau’s top academic award.

This year’s winners are Kathryn A. Clontz of South Iredell High School in Iredell County; Tristen R. Fulton of North Davidson High School in Davidson County; Benjamin W. Herndon of Liberty Christian Academy in Cumberland County; Kathryn M. Hice of Southeast Guilford High School in Guilford County; Tyler A. McDuffie of North Moore High School in Moore County; Mazie A. Nunn of East Surry High School in Surry County; Jackson K. Pickard of West Brunswick High School in Brunswick County; and Gavin B. Tyndall of South Lenoir High School in Lenoir County.

For the six four-year college or university students, the renewable scholarship is valued at $4,000 per year and provides each recipient with a total of $16,000 over four years for tuition, books and other expenses. The scholarship program assists 24 college-level students each year.

Scholarships were awarded to two students who will attend a community college to receive an associate degree in an agricultural-related field, or prepare to transfer to a four-year college or university. The renewable scholarship is valued at $1,000 per year for two years of study, and provides each recipient with a total of $2,000 over two years for tuition, books and other expenses. Ultimately, the scholarship program will assist four community college students each year. Students in the community college system’s 1 + 3 and 2 + 2 programs receive $1,000 for their community-college enrollment year or years, and $4,000 for the university years of their study.

The R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3 million in scholarship money to agriculture students since it was founded in 1967. Read more about the scholars below:

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Shaw scholarship recipient Tristen R. FultonTristen R. Fulton, who will graduate from North Davidson High School in Davidson County, plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in animal science and then a degree in veterinary medicine at Iowa State University toward a career as a large animal veterinarian.

Fulton, a fifth-generation cattle breeder whose family has Herefords and Red Angus herds, says her goal is to open her own veterinary practice one day.

“I would like to create a clinic with functional space available to incorporate educational opportunities within the local community,” she says.

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North Carolina Field & Family Spring 2026
Flip through the pages of the Spring 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, impress your guests with creative yet easy spring holiday recipes, learn how farmers face challenges planning the future of their farmland, meet some North Carolina beef producers raising the steaks, start your engines with eight reasons to visit Richmond County, get crabby with Sheri Castle’s Deviled Crab recipe and much more.

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