DONOR DOLLARS AT WORK: Emily Cusack, Agriculture Education
By Jana Garvie Lindley
“I am so grateful to call NWOSU home. I knew the second I walked into the Agriculture Department I had found where I belonged,” shared Emily Cusack.
Scheduled to graduate in 2024, she came to Northwestern from Ames, Okla., to pursue an agriculture education major.
“I chose agriculture education to fill the gap in education and to help students find where they belong. The ability to have a lasting impression on a student's educational journey is something I strive for.”
Cusack plans to teach agriculture in rural Oklahoma.
“I am so thankful for my time at Northwestern,” said Cusack. “Northwestern has not only helped further my education but has provided me a sense of community and unwavering support. The foundations and connections I have made here have deeply impacted me and my future. The Dean Ranson scholarship has created a worry-free opportunity to further my education.”
Cusack received the Dean Ranson Scholarship.
This scholarship was established in 2003 to honor Dean Ranson by his daughters and their families. Dean grew up on a family farm southwest of Fairview and graduated from Longdale High School in 1938. He married Ethel Martin in 1942 and graduated from Northwestern State College in 1943 with a degree in Physics and Mathematics. Dean served his country during World War II and, after receiving his military discharge, taught high school for one year in Zenda, Kan. In 1947, he moved back to Fairview, where he worked various positions for the Farmers and Merchants National Bank for 55 years. Dean married Mary Teske in 1990, and in 2002 he retired as the Chief Executive Officer of the Farmers and Merchants Bank, a position he held for over 13 years. Dean died in the summer of 2007. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students from Major County to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and may be pursuing any area of study.