The Pork Checkoff, Pioneer Hi-Bred and PIC have selected the 19 college students to receive awards as part of the 2008 Pork Industry Scholarships program. The program is in line with the industry’s critical issue of developing human capital.
The students hail from 14 different colleges and seven different swine-related fields of study. The top candidate will receive $10,000 stipend and the second candidate will receive $5,000 in a scholarship sponsored by Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. Seventeen students will receive $2,500 each. A formal announcement of the scholarship winners will be made later this week.
Over 120 students applied to receive a scholarship this year. Applications represented 25 states and close to 40 community colleges and universities. Funds for a similar program have been requested in the 2009 budget and are pending National Pork Board and USDA approval. The Pork Checkoff will be soliciting sponsors for these scholarships from industry, state associations and other trade organizations.
Source: Pork Checkoff Insider, Oct. 27, 2008