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Riggans Memorial Scholarship honors former 4-H’er who was a dairy industry leader

A new scholarship endowment was established in April in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to honor Megan Mann Riggans and her infant son, Will. The Megan Mann Riggans and Will Riggans Memorial Scholarship Endowment was signed into creation with a memorandum of understanding between the family and friends of Megan Riggans and CALS’ N.C. Agricultural Foundation Inc.

The endowment will be used to provide scholarships for undergraduate students from the state of North Carolina who are enrolled in agricultural programs at N. C. State University, N.C. A&T State University or Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, with first preference given to students in a dairy-related curriculum. In addition to the universities’ criteria in selecting recipients for the merit-based awards, eligibility requirements also include active participation in 4-H, FFA, the N.C. Guernsey Association or the N.C. Junior Holstein Association.

Megan Riggans
Megan Mann Riggans upon “Lou” in 2007

Megan Riggans of Staley was a dairy industry leader and a Guernsey and Holstein breed enthusiast, who was active in 4-H, FFA and the N.C. Guernsey and N.C. Junior Holstein associations. She took great pride in exhibiting and showing her “Udderly Kool Cows.” She graduated from Southern Alamance High School in 2007 and helped operate the family farm, Ran-Lew Dairy, with her uncle and aunt, Randy and Teresa Lewis.

She passed away last September 2, at the age of 22, from injuries sustained in a car accident on her way to deliver her first child.  Her newborn son, William Casey “Will” Riggans, survived for just days after her passing.

The new scholarship will honor Megan Riggans’ enthusiasm for sharing knowledge: She was a mentor to many young agriculturalists, as she helped youth prepare for the show ring and served as a coach for many dairy judging, dairy foods and dairy quiz bowl teams. – Terri Leith