Chyler Hughes, a recent Lincoln University (LU) graduate, has a vision — to create environmental and agriculture programs for women and girls in urban areas. Growing up in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City, Hughes faced challenges with asthma and never imagined a future in agriculture.
However, that changed when she enrolled at LU and discovered her passion for the environment. Shortly after declaring her major in agriculture, Hughes received the 1890 David Scott Scholarship, allowing her to graduate with minimal debt as well as opening academic and networking opportunities.
Hughes credits the scholarship with surrounding her with a supportive community of like-minded peers and mentors who helped her thrive. "It gave me more of a community where I could connect with other agriculture students and professors and build relationships," she said. These connections, along with guidance from her advisors, helped her navigate her studies and opened doors to various academic experiences.
Under the mentorship of faculty and staff of LU, Hughes had hands-on experiences, helping build community gardens and learning about native plants, becoming deeply invested in sustainable agriculture and urban green spaces.
Hughes is now pursuing a master's degree in geography at the University of California, Davis, while continuing her internship with the Environmental Protection Agency, where she works in the watershed protection and grants branches.
"When opportunities come to you, grab them,” Hughes said as she considered the opportunities she received through the 1890 David Scott Scholarship. “Don't run away. It might be scary at first, but the reward of doing it will definitely outweigh all of those worries."