Also this month:
* NC
A&T Project to Improve Food Stamp Nutrition
* Tailored
Information Best for Farm Safety
* NC A&T
Specialist Advises on Child Care Options for Infants
* NC
A&T and Guilford County Extension Team for Small Farm Day
*
Innovative Internship Program Exposes Students to Retail Management
* NC
A&T Department Faculty at National Conference
Other News Links:
Press Release Archive
Cooperative Extension
Press Releases
Agricultural Research
Press Releases
General Links:
NC A&T School of Agriculture
Agricultural Communications
Mitch Arnold, news editor
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Greensboro, NC: An elite group of rising college
freshmen recently converged on Greensboro to familiarize themselves with
a unique program which will eventually lead to employment opportunities
with the United States Department of Agriculture.
When the North Carolina A&T State University School of Agriculture
hosted the annual USDA/1890 National Scholars' Orientation, 32 students
from across the nation visited campus. Each will begin classes this fall
at one of the 17 1890 land-grant institutions, as a USDA 1890 scholar.
"The National Scholars Program gives qualified students a unique educational
opportunity," says J. C. Brown. As USDA liaison officer for NC A&T's
School of Agriculture, Brown serves as the main campus contact for NC A&T's
10 USDA scholars. "The program not only provides scholarship money
for education, it also gives students an opportunity to work closely with
a USDA agency while developing their professional skills."
Through the program, USDA provides students with full tuition, fees, books,
use of a personal computer, software, employment, and employee benefits
for each of the four years they are pursuing a bachelor's degree. The institutions
provide the scholarship recipients with room and board for each year.
According to Brown, the intent of the orientation session was to bring
students new to the program together to learn about the 1890 land-grant
system and its relationship with USDA agencies. To do this, the orientation
included presentations by representatives from each of the 1890 institutions,
and from each USDA agency.
A tour of the A&T campus and a banquet at the Holiday Inn Four Seasons
were also on the orientation's agenda.
The Scholars Program is aimed at students studying agriculture or related
subjects at historically black 1890 land-grant universities, with the goal
of helping graduates into USDA careers, thereby enhancing the diversity
of USDA's workforce.
Since its inception six years ago, the program has accepted 200 students
nationwide.
To be considered for the USDA/1890 National Scholars' Program, a high school
student must score 1,000 or higher on the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT)
or 21 or higher on the American College Test (ACT), have at least a 3.0
grade point average, and demonstrate successful leadership and community
service. In addition, students must be U.S. citizens, demonstrate good
citizenship, and sign a service agreement to work one year for USDA for
each year of the scholarship.
Students interested in more information about the scholarship program can
call J.C. Brown, USDA liaison officer, at (336) 334-7709.
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