WASHINGTON, April 6, 2005—U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Bruce Knight today announced that the 2005
Asian Pacific Islander (API) Scholars Program and the new Tribal Scholars
Program application period is April 4 through
May 13, 2005.
“These scholarship opportunities strengthen the conservation partnership with
state colleges and land-grant institutions and help attract outstanding students
from underrepresented groups to pursue careers in agriculture and natural
resource sciences,” said Knight. “Workforce planning and scholarship programs
help create a more effective government by providing the tools and experience
these students need to perform at high levels and become quality employees.”
This is the first year of the Tribal Scholars Program, which was created to help
the agency accomplish its workforce diversity goals and improve interaction with
tribal partners and customers. Five scholarships will be awarded to U.S.
citizens who are seeking a degree in agriculture or related natural resource
sciences at a 1994 tribal land-grant institution. There are 34 tribal colleges
and universities nationwide.
The API Scholars Program awarded five scholarships last year and will offer five
in 2005. The program is open to U.S. citizens at universities with high
percentages of Asian and Pacific Islander students in California, Hawaii,
Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Pacific Basin.
Both scholarship programs provide full tuition, employment, employee benefits,
fees, books, use of a personal computer and software while on scholarship and
room and board each year for up to four years. In addition to general
eligibility criteria, each scholarship may have unique features due to
differences in the target institutions or communities.
NRCS also participates in two USDA-sponsored scholarship programs: the USDA/1890
National Scholars Program for students planning to attend an 1890 Historically
Black Land Grant Institution and major in agriculture or natural resource
related studies; and the Public Service Leaders Scholarship, which is a
collaborative effort between USDA, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities and the Hispanic College Fund, Inc.
Detailed information on the Tribal and API scholars programs is on the Web at
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/scholarships or from Larry Holmes, NRCS
Outreach Division Director, at 301-504-2229 or larry.holmes2@usda.gov.
Information on the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is at
http://1890Scholars.program.usda.gov. Information on the Public Service Leaders
Scholarship is at http://www.hsi.usda.gov/Scholars/main.htm.
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The Natural Resources
Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help
people
conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment.
An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
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