Seven Albertans are among 67 graduating high school students from farm families across Canada who have received a $1,500 entrance scholarship from the Monsanto Fund.
The 2013 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program awarded a total of $100,500 in scholarship funding to students pursuing studies in agriculture or an agriculture-related field, up from the $93,000 awarded to 62 student winners in 2012. Since first launching its scholarshipMonsanto Canada, has provided over $1.5 million to hundreds of rural students who have chosen to study agriculture and pursue careers in the agricultural sector.
“The Monsanto Fund has a strong commitment to rural communities and rural education, particularly in the areas of science and math,” Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada said in a release.
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The program received over 190 applications from rural students across the country this year, up from approximately 160 applications received in 2012. The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges based on their academic performance, leadership capabilities and involvement in giving back to charitable or other service groups in their local communities. All applicants were also required to submit an application essay that answered the question, “In what area of agriculture would you like to work and why?”
Alberta winners were Erin Anderson of Scandia, Shaylene Braun, New Norway; Gerene Cole, Coronation; Colby Harty, Etzikom; Larissa Lupul, Foisy; Jade Marshall, Innisfail and Lee Noble, Manning.
