ISA to award $10,000 in scholarships to Iowa students

The Iowa Soybean Association is proud to announce it will award $10,000 in scholarships to five outstanding Iowa high school seniors through the 2005 ISA Student Scholarship program.
"As a farmer organization, we know how important it is to invest in our young people and encourage them to pursue jobs in agriculture," says Ray Gaesser, director on the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board and grower from Corning, Iowa. "That's why ISA has committed $10,000 in scholarships this year to Iowa high school seniors who are interested in pursuing agriculture-related careers. We want to welcome the next generation of farmers onto the land by helping them receive the best education and training they can. We know that keeping young people in rural Iowa will ultimately help keep our farms and small communities both healthy and prosperous."
ISA raises the money for the student scholarships during the annual Iowa Soy Golf Classic. ISA would like to thank this year's platinum sponsor, Cargill, for its generous support. With Cargill's contribution, ISA was able to award more and larger scholarships than ever before.
The scholarship competition is open to high school seniors who are Iowa residents and plan on attending any ag-related college or university.
Scholarship criteria includes: an accumulate grade point average of 3.0 at the end of the first semester of their senior year, scholastic achievement, community leadership, future plans in agriculture and a short essay about the student's role in the future of agriculture. Strong preference will be given to students who have parents or grandparents who are ISA members.
Interested students should ask their guidance counselors for more information or go to ISA's Website at www.iasoy beans.com for a downloadable scholarship application and complete scholarship criteria.
Scholarship applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2005. The scholarship winners will be notified by April 15, 2005. The scholarship money will be sent directly to the university or college of the scholarship winner. If no applicants meet the criteria, no awards will be granted.
Completed applications should be mailed to: Mary Whitcomb, Iowa Soybean Association, 4554 114th St., Urbandale, IA 50322-5410.
For more information about the 2005 ISA Student Scholarship Program, please contact the Iowa Soybean Association at 800-383-1423 or go to its website at www.iasoybeans.com.