The Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship Program is offering graduating grade 12 high school students the opportunity to secure one of 65 entrance scholarships valued at $1,500 to help fund their post-secondary education in an agriculture or food-related field of study. Up to 25 scholarships are now set aside for students who come from non-farm families.

“Modern agriculture is innovative, science-based, high-tech and full of rewarding job opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds with diverse skill sets,” explained Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director with Monsanto Canada. “We need well-educated young people in our industry and with many Canadians passionate about improving their health and nutrition there are job opportunities in food science and the culinary arts too so we’re happy to support these additional areas of study.”

Criteria to apply for a Monsanto Fund Opportunity Scholarship are:
-Students must have confirmed plans to enroll in their first year of post-secondary education in agriculture, an agriculture-related program or a food-related field of study at a Canadian educational institution;
-Students must have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership capabilities, and a keen interest and involvement in their communities;
-Students must submit a completed application and include an essay that outlines the future role they hope to play in agriculture or food and how they see themselves making an impact in the industry. They also need to have a farmer or food-related professional provide a reference letter for them.
-All completed application forms must be post-marked no later than May 31, 2018.

All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges and winning entries will be announced in September 2018.   

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 by calling 1-800-667-4944 or they can be accessed online at www.monsanto.ca.

Now entering its 28th year in Canada, the scholarship program has awarded well over $1.8 million to thousands of students since it was first introduced in Canada in 1991.

It is Monsanto’s longest running corporate giving program in Canada.