WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Sept. 12, 2011) - More than 50 graduating high school students from farm families across Canada have secured $1,500 entrance scholarships to pursue studies in agriculture thanks to the Monsanto Opportunity Scholarship program. In total, Monsanto has awarded $76,500 in scholarship funding to 51 students as part of its 2011 commitment to agricultural education.



The Monsanto Canada Opportunity Scholarship program received almost 200 applications from rural students across the country this year. The winners were selected by a panel of judges based on their academic performance, leadership capabilities and involvement in giving back to charitable or other service groups in their local communities. All applicants were also required to submit an application essay that answered the question, "In what area of agriculture would you like to work and why?"



Since its inception in 1991, Monsanto Canada has provided well over $1 million to hundreds of rural kids who have chosen to study agriculture and pursue careers in the agricultural sector.



"The most important thing we can grow is the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals," said Trish Jordan, public affairs director with Monsanto Canada. "The Monsanto Opportunity Scholarship program supports young people who want to pursue studies, and hopefully careers, in agriculture. And because we focus on farm families, it helps us give back to the rural communities and rural residents that have helped make us successful."



The 2011 Opportunity Scholarship winners are all Grade 12 graduates from a farm family who are enrolled in a first-year degree or diploma program in agriculture or an agricultural-related field this fall at a recognized Canadian educational institution.



This year's scholarship judging panel included: Bob Adamson, a high school science teacher within the Pembina Trails School Division in Winnipeg; John Morriss, associate publisher and editorial director Farm Business Communications; and Johanne Ross, executive director, Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba.



"Reviewing the applications is a rewarding, but challenging, experience because the quality of every student who applied is so impressive," said Ross. "All the applicants have achieved a lot in their young lives and I know they will all be successful in their chosen fields. It certainly is encouraging to me that they are choosing to study agriculture and find a way to give back to the industry, whether they return to the farm or choose a different career path."



The Monsanto Canada Opportunity Scholarship Program is one component of Monsanto's larger corporate giving program which seeks out opportunities to support groups that have a direct connection to agriculture and rural communities, specifically those with a focus on science and agriculture education; agriculture awareness; leadership and development opportunities for rural youth and farm safety.



Details on the launch of the 2012 Monsanto Canada Opportunity Scholarship Program will be released in February 2012 and will also be available online at www.monsanto.ca.



Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto family. Monsanto Company is an agricultural company and a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality. Monsanto remains focused on enabling both small-holder and large-scale farmers to produce more from their land while conserving more of our world's natural resources such as water and energy. Learn more about our business and our commitments at www.monsanto.ca.



NOTE: The complete list of Monsanto Canada 2011 Opportunity Scholarship winners, by province, is included below.









Monsanto Canada 2011

Opportunity Scholarship Winners

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ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN



Carla Chomistek Rolling Hills Olivia Denomie Kuroki

Patrick Fortier Waskatenau Kristina Disney Rockglen

Bailey Hughson Foremost Tracy Fehr Rosthern

Tessa Manners Pincher Creek Jason

Jennifer Fleischhacker Fulda

Nichiporik Hotchkiss Taylor Heck Sceptre

Kale Scarff Oyen Traci Henderson Gainsborough

Courtney Stroeder Tilley Moria Petruic Avonlea

Blair Whitfield Marwayne Kathryn Sarauer Annaheim

Deandra Stachura Yorkton

Melissa Turner Springside

Cordell Young Bredenbury



MANITOBA BRITISH COLUMBIA



Breanna Anderson Swan River Beverly Chard Dewdney

Kelsey Bailey Carberry Gabriel

Erin Cathcart Neepawa Lessard-Kragen Quathiaski Cove

Erin Chorney East Selkirk Shannon Palmer Port Alberni

Kendra Elliott Cromer

Kiah Helgason-

Stoyanowski Arborg

Sean Horner Minnedosa

Macey Ostberg Dominion City

Davis Wright MacGregor



ONTARIO QUEBEC



Christopher

Albrecht Wellesley Helene Boulay Marieville

Michelle Baker Ancaster Emmanuel Brisson Sainte-Barbe

Jennifer Charlton Brantford Malcolm Duncan Ormstown

Branden Domm Cambridge Simon Ouellet St. Alexandre

Kenny McRae Vankleek Hill Daniel Sutherland Huntingdon

Sylvia Megens Goodwood

Jacob Nederend Breslau

Erica Pate Brantford

Jackie Shaw Palmerston

Rudi Spruit Woodstock

Kaitlyn

Van Engelen Thedford

Alexander Zelem Georgetown



ATLANTIC CANADA



Harris Bakker Killoween, NB

Courtney Blois Kennetcook, NS

Kelsey Brydon Waterville, NS



