WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Sept. 10, 2012) - Sixty-two (62) graduating high school students from farm families across Canada have secured $1,500 entrance scholarships to pursue studies in agriculture thanks to financial assistance provided through the Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program.
In total, the Monsanto Fund has awarded $93,000 in scholarship funding to 62 students as part of its 2012 commitment to agricultural education.
The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program received over 160 applications from rural students across the country this year. 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?"
"The Monsanto Fund has a strong commitment to rural education and rural communities," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "Farm families are the strength of rural communities and it is an honour to support children from farm families who want to remain engaged in agriculture and give back to our industry and their communities."
The 2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship winners are all Grade 12 graduates from a farm family who are enrolled in a first-year degree or diploma program in agriculture or an agricultural-related field this fall at a recognized Canadian educational institution.
The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program is administered independent of the Monsanto Fund by the not-for-profit, charitable group - Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba Inc. All scholarship applications were reviewed by an independent, external judging panel comprised of: Bob Adamson, a high school science teacher within the Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg; John Morriss, associate publisher and editorial director of Farm Business Communications; Robert Bulman, owner/partner of ThinkShift Inc.; Ellen Pruden, education coordinator with Manitoba Canola Growers; Don Pincock, interim executive director of the Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) and program administrator Johanne Ross, executive director, of Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba Inc.
"It is an honour to administer this program on behalf of the Monsanto Fund and have the opportunity to be exposed to so many quality, rural students who have chosen agriculture as their field of study," said Ross. "Reading the student essays really drives home what impact agriculture has had on the lives of these young students. They see the possibilities and the excitement that agriculture holds as a future career path and I know they will strengthen our industry and their communities in the future."
Since its inception in 1991, the Monsanto Fund and Monsanto Canada have provided well over $1 million to hundreds of rural kids who have chosen to study agriculture and pursue careers in the agricultural sector.
The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program is just one component of Monsanto's larger corporate giving program which seeks out opportunities to substantially and meaningfully improve people's lives. Its focus is on supporting groups that have a direct connection to agriculture and rural communities, specifically those that encourage science and agriculture education; enhance agriculture awareness; provide leadership and development opportunities for rural youth and increase farm safety.
Details on the launch of the 2013 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program will be released in February 2013 and will also be available online at www.monsanto.ca.
About the Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.
About Monsanto Canada
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.
NOTE: The complete list of Monsanto Canada 2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship winners, by province, is included below.
2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Winners
| ALBERTA | SASKATCHEWAN | ||||
| Peter Bos | Coaldale, AB | Laura Archer | Mazenod, SK | ||
| Kelly Coppock | Castor, AB | Laurie Bannerman | Mervin, SK | ||
| Becky Domolewski | Taber, AB | Megan Bergsveinson | Alameda, SK | ||
| Taya Hoar | Ponoka, AB | Brayden Conner | Beechy, SK | ||
| Danica Nobbs | Bonanza, AB | Andrea Hoffman | Bruno, SK | ||
| Tessa Nybo | Sundre, AB | Joel Karstens | Wilkie, SK | ||
| Kirsten Pallesen, | Drumheller, AB | Aaron Kary | Vibank, SK | ||
| Monica Sluijmers | Lethbridge, AB | Kennedy Keith | Biggar, SK | ||
| Heather Stanko | Lomond, AB | Art Kohler | Glenavon, SK | ||
| Brandon Wagstaff | Trochu, AB | Shawna Lajoie | Sylvania, SK | ||
| Shay Pridmore | Consul, SK | ||||
| MANITOBA | Chelsea Richter | Broadview, SK | |||
| Amanda Wuchner | Humboldt, SK | ||||
| Hayley Butterfield | Laurier, MB | ||||
| Ashley Campion | Pipestone, MB | BRITISH COLUMBIA | |||
| Jessica Chamberlin | Cypress River, MB | ||||
| William de Martines | Beausejour, MB | Ruby-Rae Regawski | Langley, BC | ||
| Melanie Eastman | Hartney, MB | Thea Rodgers | Cranbrook, BC | ||
| Allison Fisher | Dauphin, MB | Allison Speller | Monte Lake, BC | ||
| Kathleen Holweger | Killarney, MB | ||||
| Fiona Jochum | St. Francois Xavier, MB | QUEBEC | |||
| Keith Johnson | Komarno, MB | ||||
| Logan Pizzey | Binscarth, MB | Alexandre Houle | Victoriaville, QC | ||
| Gordon Ross | Minnedosa, MB | Lysanne Pelletire | St-Roch, QC | ||
| Jacey Schettler | Plumas, MB | Maryanne Theriault | St-Epiphane, QC | ||
| Stacey Schott | Warren, MB | Carrie Simpson | Huntingdon, QC | ||
| Rebecca Turner | Boissevain, MB | ||||
| ATLANTIC CANADA | |||||
| ONTARIO | |||||
| Kaylin Buttimer | Hunter River, PE | ||||
| Stephen Boersma | Exeter, ON | Jenna MacKinnon | Richmond, PE | ||
| Laurissa Christie | Tara, ON | Emily MacLeod | Vernon Bridge, PE | ||
| Lori de Wal | Quinte West, ON | ||||
| Amber Flipsen | Apple Hill, ON | ||||
| Matthew Hebblethwaite | Blenheim, ON | ||||
| Rachel Jackson | Tupperville, ON | ||||
| Shane Klassen | Wheatley, ON | ||||
| Victoria Kyle | Drumbo, ON | ||||
| Lauren Monk | Elmwood, ON | ||||
| Shaelyn Prins | Corbyville, ON | ||||
| Kyle Smith | Stittsville, ON | ||||
| Lori Taylor | Hensall, ON | ||||
| Sabrina Van Schyndel | Carleton Place, ON | ||||
| Sophie Wotten | Little Britain, ON | ||||
| Sara Wyngaarden | Elmira, ON |
Contact Information:
Trish Jordan
(204) 985-1005
www.monsantofund.org