Contacts:
Rebecca Oswald, Cargill, (952) 742-6207
Teri Buchholtz, FFA, (317) 802-4419, tbuchholtz@ffa.org
Cargill to award 350 scholarships for Class of 2007
MINNEAPOLIS — Cargill, in partnership with National FFA Organization, will award $350,000 in scholarships to high-school seniors who live in communities where Cargill has a business presence and plan to enroll in accredited post-secondary institutions in the fall of 2007.
The national program, administered by FFA on behalf of Cargill, will award 350 scholarships of $1,000 each. In addition, each recipient’s high school will receive a $200 grant for the school library to support education in the community. Scholarship guidelines and the application are available at www.cargill.com and www.ffa.org. The application requires the signature of a Cargill employee from the local community. Applications are due Feb. 15, 2007. Scholarships will be awarded in May 2007.
FFA will independently process the applications and select the scholarship recipients. Students are chosen based on academic achievement and leadership in extracurricular and civic activities. Awards are made without regard to race, color, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation or national origin. Students do not need to be members of FFA to be eligible.
“We are pleased to join FFA in an effort to reward outstanding students and assist them in their efforts to continue their education,” said Michelle Grogg, director of corporate contributions for Cargill. “Cargill and its joint-venture businesses have a long-standing commitment to education programs and will continue to look for opportunities to nourish the lives of young people in the communities where we live and work.”
“FFA prepares young people for future success in more than 300 diverse careers through agricultural education," said Anna Melodia, director of educational programs for National FFA Organization. "Supporting those young people in pursuing a post-secondary degree is crucial to this mission.”
Cargill contributes more than $36 million each year to civic and charitable organizations to help fulfill the company’s vision to be the global leader in nourishing people. The company invests more than one-third of its global charitable budget toward innovative education projects for youth, including $800,000 designated for higher-education scholarships in the United States. Cargill businesses in the United States include Sunny Fresh Foods, Horizon Milling, Taylor Beef and Wilbur Chocolate, and Cargill business units previously known by other names, such as Degussa, Excel, Emmpak Foods, Caprock and Hohenberg Brothers.
About FFA
FFA is a national youth organization of 495,046 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with over 7,200 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.
About Cargill
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 149,000 employees in 63 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed.