Five students from Alberta have been announced as receipients under two national scholarship programs.

Stephanie Schussler of Burdett, John Chandler of Camrose and Nicolas Weisgerber of Bow Island are among the 30 winners of $1,000 scholarships through Syngenta Crop Protection Canada’s inaugural 2008 Horizon scholarship program.

“I was struck by the high level of community involvement displayed by these young people and how well this bodes for the future of rural communities in the Prairies,” said Dean Hironaka, Crop Manager for Cereals at Syngenta.

Each recipient hails lives or works on a farm and plans to attend post-secondary education in agriculture, business or natural science. Applicants were judged based on academic standing, extra-curricular activities and community involvement.

Cody Coleman of Innisfail and Renae Zook of Trochu are two of 10 winners of the Canadian 4-H Council and TD Bank Financial Group 4-H Agriculture Scholarship Award.

The scholarship provides $2,500 to 4-H members in their last year of high school who are planning to enroll in post-secondary education in agriculture or related discipline.

“We are extremely pleased to offer this scholarship from TD Bank Financial Group, and I would like to extend our gratitude to TD for supporting 4-H in Canada for more than 50 years,” said Bob McAuley, president of the Canadian 4-H Council.