Sophia Green and Kylie Konyn Awarded 2025 Graduate Student Scholarships
The Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corporation (AWABC) awarded two graduate student scholarships to Association of Women in Agriculture (AWA) alumni members totaling $5,000. Sophia Green from Sun Prairie, Wis. and Kylie Konyn from Escondido, Calif. were this year’s recipients. This marked the organization’s sixth year of offering scholarships to alumni pursuing graduate studies.
The first graduate scholarship winner, Sophia Green, was awarded $3,000. Green graduated in 2024 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Animal Science with Honors in Research and a certificate in Agricultural Business Management. Currently a student at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Green is on the Food Animal Production Medicine track and will graduate in the class of 2029 with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Green adds, “I have a strong passion for animal health and its role in production animal agriculture. Food animal veterinarians play a critical role in maintaining a safe food supply and managing both animal and public health, which blends many of my professional interests. I chose the DVM program at the University of Wisconsin because of Wisconsin’s strong dairy industry and the high rigor of the program, ranking fifth nationally.”
The second scholarship winner, Kylie Konyn, was awarded $2,000. Konyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2025 with a degree in Dairy Science and certificates in Agricultural Business Management and Science Communication. Konyn is currently attending Cornell University to obtain a Master’s degree in Animal Science. Konyn’s research will focus on transition cow health, nutrition, and management. Konyn notes, “I firmly believe that furthering my education will enhance my critical thinking, expand my industry network, and deepen my scientific knowledge, allowing me to combine it with practical application in the field.”
Green and Konyn are also both active members in AWABC. Green shared that her favorite part of being involved in the organization is “the continued involvement from the alumni with the active membership. From hosting successful, multi-generational, AWA days to casual networking, AWABC has shown their dedication to mentorship and professional connections for young women in our active membership.” Konyn echoed this sentiment, saying “I am excited to expand my involvement and build upon the network I developed during my undergraduate studies.”
