By Scout Nelson
The CLAAS Foundation and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are strengthening agricultural engineering education through two new initiatives launched in honor of Helmut Claas’ 100th birthday: the Helmut Claas Scholarship and the CLAAS Foundation Study Abroad Fund. The programs aim to support students pursuing careers in agricultural technology while expanding international learning opportunities.
Helmut Claas, born in 1926, played a major role in building CLAAS into a global agricultural machinery company. Throughout his career, he championed educational programs that encouraged young people to enter the agricultural technology industry and develop the skills needed for future innovation.
In partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the CLAAS Foundation will offer the Helmut Claas Scholarship to undergraduate students studying agricultural engineering or agricultural systems technology. Four incoming students will receive scholarships that can be renewed annually for up to four years.
Established through the University of Nebraska Foundation, the scholarship reflects the CLAAS Foundation’s long-standing commitment to developing future agricultural engineering professionals. It also promotes collaboration between European and North American institutions and industries.
The CLAAS Foundation has also created a Study Abroad Fund for students in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. The fund will support participation in a short-term international program conducted in cooperation with Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
By providing global learning experiences, the program helps students gain international exposure and strengthen their understanding of agricultural engineering and technology. The initiative is designed to encourage academic growth and prepare students for careers in an increasingly connected agricultural sector.
The foundation’s contribution also supports the University of Nebraska’s "Only in Nebraska" campaign, which focuses on expanding student access, educational opportunities, and long-term success across the university system.
Photo Credit: kinze-manufacturing
Categories: Nebraska, Education, Equipment & Machinery