ARDMORE, Okla. – The application period for the Sam Noble Scholarships in agriculture and technology will close on Feb. 16, 2009. All applications must be received by the Noble Foundation on or before the deadline to receive consideration.

Requests for applications may be submitted online at www.noble.org or by contacting Annie Coble at 580.224.6247. Additional information may be obtained by visiting the scholarship Web site at www.noble.org/Admin/granting/scholarship.html.

"It takes only a few minutes to fill out an application that could provide significant support for a college education," said Donna Windel, Director of Granting for the Noble Foundation. "We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity and apply before the deadline."

The Sam Noble Scholarships are available to eligible southern Oklahoma students in all stages of the academic process – from incoming freshmen to those seeking graduate degrees.

Scholarships for students seeking undergraduate degrees in agriculture-related fields provide $2,500 of support per semester for up to nine semesters, while scholarships for graduate students offer $3,125 per semester for up to five semesters.

Applicants must pursue their education at a university awarding baccalaureate or higher degrees through a division or college of agriculture, such as Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Texas Tech University (Lubbock campus) or Texas A&M University (College Station campus).

Scholarships for those seeking degrees or certification in technology-related fields are awarded $3,750 per year for up to two years. Applicants must pursue an associate's degree or technical certificate at Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma City or Okmulgee campus.

To be eligible to receive a scholarship, students must plan to attend or be attending a qualifying university or technology training institution during the academic year 2009-2010. The students must also be a resident of one of the following southern Oklahoma counties: Atoka, Bryan, Carter, Choctaw, Coal, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, McCurtain, Murray, Pontotoc, Pushmataha or Stephens.

The scholarship program is named in honor of the late Sam Noble, who created the program through a gift to the Noble Foundation. Sam Noble was a long-time member of the Noble Foundation Board of Trustees and son of Lloyd Noble, who established the organization in 1945.

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News Release Issued: January 15, 2009

For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact J. Adam Calaway, Director of Public Relations, at 580.224.6209 or by email at jacalaway@noble.org.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.