Faculty EmailDecember 23, 2008
Prairie View A&M University and USDA Seek
Applicants for USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
PRAIRIE VIEW, TX – Applications are now being accepted for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/1890 National Scholars Program for the 2009/2010 academic year. Aspiring high school seniors are encouraged to apply before the February 1, 2009 deadline.
Prairie View A&M University is in its 16th year of partnering with USDA to award scholarships to students to study agriculture, food, natural resource sciences or other related disciplines.
“The USDA/1890 National Scholars Program is a partnership initiative between USDA and the eighteen, 1890 Land-Grant Institutions,” said Horace Hodge, USDA liaison officer at Prairie View A&M University. “USDA’s goal, through this partnership, is to expand diversity in the organization through the recruitment of talented students into public service in agriculture and related fields, including food sciences, natural resource sciences and agricultural sciences.”
Since the inception of the National Scholars Program in 1992, USDA has funded 451 national scholars, of whom 42 have attended Prairie View A&M University.
“This is an excellent scholarship for qualified students,” said Hodge. “Those awarded scholarships receive full tuition, fees, books and use of a personal computer and software.”
For each year of the scholarship, students get room and board provided by the partnering institutions, and are required to work one year at USDA (with pay) for each year of financial support.
“We want all interested persons to share information about this scholarship with potential college bound students in their school, church or community, particularly those that might have an interest in attending Prairie View A&M University,” said Dr. Freddie Richards, interim dean, College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, Prairie View A&M University.
Applications for the 2009 academic year must be postmarked no later than February 1 and sent to the USDA liaison officer at the institution of the applicant’s choice. Students interested in attending Prairie View A&M University should send their application to Horace Hodge, USDA Liaison Officer, P.O. Box 2736, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas 77446-2736. Hodge can also be contacted at 936/261-2521 or hdhodge@pvamu.edu.
The USDA/1890 National Scholars application form and other information are also available on the PVAMU Web site, www.pvamu.edu/pages/5125.asp. The application form can either be printed blank and filled out or completed online, printed and submitted to Horace Hodge.
Gloria J. Mosby, program director – Communications
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