Agriculture Student Looks to Use Scholarship to Complete His Blackhawk Career

Agriculture student Issa Conombo grew up in Burkina Faso, West Africa. So how did he end up as a student at Blackhawk?

After doing research, Issa said Blackhawk was the only college that offered a combination of Agriculture and Science and Technology. He believes that’s a good skill set for someone like him who wants to learn about agriculture and be able to farm in the future.

Growing up, it was hard for Issa to have three decent meals per day. Being able to contribute to feeding the world by growing food was the main reason he chose this particular field.

Issa was recently awarded the Blackhawk Foundation’s Compeer Financial and Fund for Future of Agriculture Scholarships within his field of Agriculture.

After spending his summer in an internship required by his major, Issa said he was stressed about how he would pay his tuition. Due to his financial situation, he was only registered for two classes, but when he was notified that he got approved for help, he registered for more classes.

“With this help, I am working hard to have good grades and graduate next year,” he said.

Good grades are something that Issa believes is possible due to the amount of hands-on learning, which he thinks is the best way to learn. He also appreciates the Blackhawk staff and the number of resources they have to help students succeed.

Being a full-time student who doesn’t work during school time but also solely pays his tuition and living expenses, Issa said this scholarship means so much to him that he doesn’t even know what to say.

Beyond the scholarship, Blackhawk has helped Issa to complete his goal in numerous ways, from the good advice he gets from his instructors to the assistance in getting him an internship to connecting him with new people.

“My advice for those who are considering BTC is to never be afraid to ask and always get out of your comfort zone and try new things,” he said.

On track to graduate next spring, Issa plans to look for a job in the ag industry but also get his bachelor’s degree in Crops and Soils Science at UW-Platteville. He ultimately wants to own a crop farm so he can help to feed people.

Compeer Financial Scholarship

Compeer Financial established the Compeer Financial Scholarship because it believes in the future of agriculture. As an agricultural lender serving 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, the cooperative sees the need for the next generation of talented, skilled agricultural workers. Hands-on, technical education is critical to building that workforce, and these scholarships help students pursue their passions. The $1,250 scholarship is awarded to two students each fall to students enrolled (or will be enrolling) in Agribusiness/Science Technology or the Agribusiness Specialist, or the Farm Business & Production Management programs at Blackhawk Technical College. Students can either be enrolled as part-time (minimum six credits) or full-time students and must be in good academic standing. The scholarship is available to new or continuing students though the student must reside in Compeer's 144-county territory. Preference shall be given to second-year or non-traditional students and students showing financial need.

For more information on scholarships offered at Blackhawk Technical College, visit blackhawk.edu/scholarships.