Harper graduates secure Helmut Class Scholarship awards against global competition

Posted 20 October 2020

Two Harper Adams University graduates have been selected to receive Helmut Claas Scholarship awards against global competition.

The CLAAS foundation held an online presentation to announce the winners of the Helmut Class Scholarships, which are usually presented during a ceremony at the CLAAS headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany

Students who have studied engineering, agriculture or food-related subjects are invited to apply for the awards based on their bachelor thesis. The international competition was open to any student who had submitted their thesis this summer. Four scholarships are awarded annually for students who are continuing their studies, with further bonus awards for students who have submitted exceptional entries but are not continuing their academic journey.

Harper Adams is delighted to announce that Abigail Allen, who graduated with a BSc (Hons) Agriculture degree this year, was awarded a scholarship for her thesis entitled “Investigating the Allelopathic Properties of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (Buckwheat) as a Method of Weed Suppression of Alopecurus myosuroides (Black-grass)", supervised by Dr John Reade. Abigail has returned to Harper Adams to complete her MSc in Agricultural Sciences and Production Systems.

Fellow graduate, Hannah Baldwin received a bonus award for her thesis entitled “To investigate the effect of hanging duration on microbial levels of eviscerated carcasses and organoleptic properties of cooked whole turkeys”. Hannah studied BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Animal Science.

Sylvia Looks, member of the Executive Board of the CLAAS Foundation, explained: "We are not going to let Covid get on top of us, but instead we stick to the idea of the CLAAS Foundation and will continue to support talents in the fields of agriculture and agricultural engineering".

Board colleague, Frank Klüsener, added: "Let us honour the academic achievements of these students as well as their personal commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to agriculture and related areas despite these challenging times".

The ceremony can be viewed on the CLAAS Foundation website.