Monsanto Canada has released details regarding the 2012 Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program. The program offers graduating grade 12 high school students from farm families the opportunity to capture a $1,500 entrance scholarship to help fund their post-secondary education in agriculture or an agriculture-related field of study.

Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarships are available to eligible students entering their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture at a recognized Canadian educational institution.

“We want to support and encourage kids from farm families to pursue studies in agriculture and fund projects or initiatives that help strengthen their communities and their lives,” said Trish Jordan, public affairs director with Monsanto Canada.

Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarships are available to students who meet the following criteria:

•  Students must come from a family farm with confirmed plans to enroll in their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture or an agriculture-related program;
•  Students must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and a keen interest and involvement in their rural community;
•  Students must submit a completed application form, which includes an essay that outlines what area of agriculture they would like to work in and why;
•  All completed application forms must be post-marked no later than May 25, 2012.

Scholarship application forms and posters in both French and English are in the process of being distributed to high schools, 4-H clubs, provincial and federal agriculture offices, farm retail outlets and seed companies. Application forms and complete program details are also available from Monsanto’s CustomCare line at 1-800-667-4944 or they can be accessed online at www.monsanto.ca.

All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges and winning entries will be announced in September 2012. Last year, 51 rural students from across the country received scholarships to pursue their educational goals. In 2012, The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship program hopes to provide up to 60 scholarships to deserving students.

Now entering its 22nd year, the company’s scholarship program has awarded well over $1 million to thousands of deserving students since the program’s inception in 1991.

More information is available at www.monsantofund.org.