Monsanto offers scholarships for rural graduates

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Monsanto Canada is offering some help to graduating students from across Canada who plan to pursue post-secondary studies pertaining to agriculture or forestry.

The 2007 Monsanto Canada Opportunity Scholarship Program will award an estimated 50 scholarships valued at $1,500 apiece to students entering their first year of post-secondary education at a recognized Canadian educational institution.

“The scholarships falls under our corporate giving program, which is really meant to help out the communities and the people who help make our business successful,” said Trish Jordan in Monsanto’s Public Affairs office. “Because we’re an agricultural business, and we’re successful when farmers are successful, that’s what we’ve chosen to focus on in our giving program.”

In order to qualify, students must come from a family farm or have a forestry background, and must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and a keen interest and involvement in their rural community.

“We’re looking at kids from rural areas or from farm families who actually want to explore a career in agriculture,” Jordan said. “That doesn’t mean they necessarily have to go into farming. There are a wide variety of opportunities in the agricultural sector, from things like business, marketing and accounting, to science, agronomy and agricultural engineering.”

Monsanto has been offering the scholarship program for 16 years. Over that time, Jordan says about $825,000 has been provided to deserving students across Canada.

“The scholarship program falls into one of our top priorities, which is science and agricultural education,” she stated. “That’s obviously the foundation of our business. We feel that by encouraging kids to explore careers in science and/or agriculture, ultimately that’s going to benefit not only our company, but the industry as a whole.”

Jordan added that Saskatchewan students tend to do very well under the initiative. “Historically, I would say Saskatchewan has been the highest recipient of our scholarships. There are a lot of kids from the province who want to explore agriculture, and the University of Saskatchewan has a very strong program.”

Students interested in pursuing a Monsanto scholarship need to submit a completed application, including an essay outlining what area of agriculture or forestry they would like to work in and why.

Application forms will be distributed to high schools, 4-H clubs, provincial and federal agriculture offices, farm retail outlets and seed companies. Forms are also available from Monsanto’s CustomCare line at 1-800-667-4944 or can be accessed online at www.monsanto.ca.

Applications must be postmarked no later than July 16. They will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges, and winning entries will be announced in September 2007.

For more information, contact:
Trish Jordan, Public Affairs
Monsanto Canada
Phone: (204) 985-1005