Syngenta Professional Products announced the introduction of a new scholarship program for undergraduate students in horticulture and agronomy called “Grower of Tomorrow” July 16 at the OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio. As a result of the program, one student will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship and a paid summer internship with Syngenta in Greensboro, N.C.
The “Grower of Tomorrow” program is open to juniors and seniors in an ornamental-related course of study at any of 14 selected universities. One student from each university will be named by the faculty to represent his or her institution as a national qualifier. Based on the student’s application, which includes a case study and an essay, the 15 students will be narrowed to four by a panel of industry experts.
Each of the four finalists will then participate in an interview with an industry panel. The winning “Grower of Tomorrow” will be selected on the basis of this interview process. The other three finalists will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The 14 participating universities are: Clemson University, Cornell University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, Oregon State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Texas A&M, University of California-Davis, University of Florida, University of Georgia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute State University.
Applications, criteria and program details will be distributed to these institutions by Sept. 30. Each university will select its national qualifier by Jan. 30, 2008. The winning “Grower of Tomorrow” will be named by March 28, 2008.
“Syngenta is proud to announce this stewardship program for students in the ornamental field,” said Eduardo Moreira, ornamental market manager for Syngenta Professional Products. “The new generation of qualified expertise is critical for industry development. We know that settling on just one ‘Grower of Tomorrow’ will be a challenge. We are looking forward to reviewing the submissions by these students and to having one of them join Syngenta as an intern for next summer."
The selected “Grower of Tomorrow” will receive a trip to attend the 2008 OFA Short Course in Columbus, Ohio, July 2008, as part of the internship and will also be invited to attend the 2008 TOCA (Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association) annual meting in Minneapolis, Minn., in May.