Special to The Hays Daily News

MANHATTAN -- Matt Stamper and Nathan Mick are two young people who shared similar backgrounds and plans for the future. Both grew up in rural Kansas and planned to work in agriculture as adults. But, Matt Stamper's plans for the future were tragically cut short May 23, 1999, when he died in an automobile accident, just shy of his 22nd birthday.

In his honor, the Stamper family funded the Matthew Kent Stamper Memorial Scholarship beginning in May 2000 through the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center at Kansas State University.

Nathan Mick, Alton, was selected to be the 2012-13 recipient. He is a senior at Kansas State University, majoring in agricultural economics. Mick is a member of AGEC/AGBUS Club and Knights of Columbus. He is a student worker in the Department of Agricultural Economics and also works with Star Seed Inc., which allows him to work with individuals from many cooperatives. In addition, he works as a farmhand for Mick Farms.

Mick completed an internship with Koch Fertilizer, and after graduation, hopes to work as a market analyst. The Mick family is affiliated with Midway Co-op Association, Farmers Union Mercantile and Shipping Association, and Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative.

The Stamper scholarship has been awarded annually since 2000 and is funded by contributions made to the center's endowment fund with the KSU Foundation. An initial contribution of $10,000 was made by the family and friends of Matthew Stamper and additional contributions have been made each year. Previous scholarship recipients include Seth Keas, Plainville, Preston Smith, Sharon Springs, Tyler Turner, Stafford, Sarah Janssen, Erie, Kevin Thielen, Dorrance, Kendra Robben, Sharon Springs, Stephen Bigge, Stockton, Nathan Hoffman, Hays, and Nicholas Mizner, Esbon.

For more information about the scholarship or about establishing additional scholarships, email bbrigg@ksu.edu.