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A Kentucky State University student recently earned the highest degree offered by the National FFA Organization.

Aidan Thompson, a Kentucky State University student double majoring in agricultural communications and computer science, was awarded the American degree at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 30.

The American degree is the highest achievable degree for FFA members and shows a member’s dedication to FFA. Ninety-one members from Kentucky earned the award this year; seven were from Thompson’s chapter at Western Hills High School, from which he graduated in 2018.

Thompson said it was great to receive the degree and experience the supportive community of FFA again. At the National FFA Convention four years ago, Thompson watched from the crowd as members received their American degrees. Walking across the stage himself this time “really hit home,” and he said he hopes someone sitting in the crowd this year is inspired to apply for their American degree in the future.

To be eligible for the American degree, active members must be completing secondary instruction in an agricultural education program and be participating in a supervised agricultural experience program. Thompson’s work as an undergraduate research assistant in the Kentucky State Land Grant Program’s media and communications department was a large part of his application.

He was encouraged to apply by JR Zinner, his FFA adviser at Western Hills. Thompson joined FFA when he was a sophomore in high school.

Thompson is expected to graduate from Kentucky State in 2023. He will be the first student to graduate with an ag communications major within Kentucky State’s College of Agriculture, Community, and the Sciences (CACS). He wants to encourage other students, including FFA members, to consider Kentucky State’s ag communications path.

“Aidan is an outstanding student in the Kentucky State University Agriculture, Food, and Environment undergraduate degree program,” Dr. Kirk Pomper, CACS dean and director of the Land Grant Program, said. “Not only is he an excellent student in the classroom, he has also presented his research projects at professional conferences. I am very proud of his many accomplishments in agriculture and this national recognition by FFA.”