Phoenix, Arizona, USA
February 26, 2015
BASF Crop Protection has teamed up with industry-leading commodity organizations to award scholarships to 10 students pursuing degrees in agriculture. Working with the American Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and the National Wheat Foundation (NWF), BASF presented students with scholar-ships today during the 2015 Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Investing in the future is how the agricultural industry can sustain success,” said Neil Bentley, Director of Marketing, U.S. Crop, BASF. “As BASF celebrates its 150th anniversary, we are pleased to provide scholarships to bright, agriculture-passionate individuals to invest in that future and assure the sustainability of the industry in the years to come.”
American Soybean Association Scholarship The 2015-2016 ASA Secure Optimal Yield (SOY) Scholarship is a $5,000 award presented to an exceptional high school senior who has achieved both high academic success and has excelled in leadership roles. Students applying for the ASA SOY Scholarship must also plan to pursue a degree in an agriculture-related field at an accredited college or university.
Maria Kuhns of Mason, Illinois, was chosen as the 2015-2016 ASA SOY scholarship recipient. Maria will pursue a degree in agricultural business at the University of Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri, beginning this fall.
“ASA is pleased to partner with BASF once again to offer this opportunity to an outstanding student,” said ASA President Wade Cowan, a producer from Brownfield, Texas. “It’s important to keep encouraging the next generation to embark on careers in agriculture, and we know our future is in good hands thanks to bright young students like Maria.”
National Corn Growers Association Scholarships
BASF teamed up with NCGA to provide the William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarships to excelling undergraduate or graduate students pursuing an agricultural degree.
“These students are already showing a lot of promise and potential to have a positive impact on American agriculture,” said Chip Bowling, President of NCGA. “BASF’s support for this program allows us to ease the financial burden on these students, so they can more readily focus on their education and their lives after college.”
The program awarded scholarships of $1,000 each to the following students:
- Caleb Brannon of Puryear, Tennessee – a winner of last year’s ASA SOY scholarship, Caleb is a sophomore at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, studying agricultural business.
- Deja Jackson of St. Helena Island, South Carolina – a senior at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, studying civil engineering. She plans to pursue her Ph.D. in civil engineering at the University of Florida this fall.
- Amber Pickard of Hastings, Michigan – a junior at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, studying agribusiness management.
- Faith Wendte of Urbana, Illinois – a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, studying agribusiness management.
- Elizabeth Wittenbach of Belding, Michigan – a junior at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, studying agribusiness management.
National Wheat Foundation Scholarships
In its third year, the Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship honors both high school and college students who have demonstrated success in academics and leadership roles. Recipients of the Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship also must pursue careers in the agriculture industry.
In his role as BASF Senior Market Manager, Minore was a liaison to the wheat industry, including the NAWG and the NWF. A true advocate for wheat growers, Minore passed away unexpectedly in February 2012. To honor his advocacy for the wheat industry, BASF partnered with NWF to fund the scholarships. A total of four students were awarded a $1,000 or $1,500 scholarship.
“We are pleased to partner with BASF on something that recognizes young leaders in agriculture,” said NWF Chairman Dusty Tallman. “This scholarship is a great way to honor Jerry’s legacy and encourage our youth to pursue careers in this great industry.”
Recipients of the NWF Jerry Minore Memorial Scholarship include:
- JD Rosman of Creston, Washington – a sophomore at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, studying agricultural communications.
- Matthew Stubbs of LaCrosse, Washington – a sophomore at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, studying crop science and agribusiness.
- Maya Wahl of Lind, Washington – currently serving the Washington FFA Association as State Officer, she will be attending Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, in the fall, where she’ll be studying agriculture communications and journalism.
- Faith Wendte of Urbana, Illinois – also a winner of the NCGA William C. Berg Academic Excellence in Agriculture scholarship, she is a junior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, studying agribusiness management.
For more information about the industry initiatives BASF supports or the BASF Crop Protection portfolio of products, visit http://agproducts.basf.us, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
About BASF’s Crop Protection division
With sales of more than €5.2 billion in 2013, BASF’s Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, seed treatment and biological control as well as solutions to manage water, nutrients and plant stress. Its portfolio also includes products for turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. BASF’s Crop Protection division is a leading innovator that supports growers to optimize agricultural production, improve their business efficiency and enhance the quality of life for a growing world population. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or through our social media channels.
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