The West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute, founded in 1953, is a nonprofit organization of dealers, industry representatives, producers, scientists, educators, and agribusiness members who support educational and research programs promoting the safe and efficient use of agricultural chemicals.

WTACI awards academic scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students from universities in the West Texas area and to those students from the West Texas area attending the college of their choice. Since 2001, the WTACI has awarded $53,000.00 in scholarships.

Scholarships awarded in 2009 totaled $6,000.00. The 2010 Scholarships will be awarded at the Institute's annual meeting in September 2010 in Lubbock, Texas.

Selection criteria for WTACI scholarship awards include: (1) Agriculture-related major; (2) Classification - undergraduate - sophomore (with >30 hours), junior, senior or graduate (with at least one semester in the program); (3) Academic requirement - at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale; (4) Plan to actively pursue a career in an agricultural-related field; (5) Recipient can qualify for scholarship only once per college degree; (6) Recipient must attend annual meeting to personally receive the award; (7) Scholarship funds must be used toward the advancement of the recipient's formal education (*failure to utilize received moneys in this matter may result in forfeiture of this educational scholarship); and, (8) Three letters of reference must accompany the application (areas to include academic performance, character, leadership qualities, etc.).

The deadline for application is April 22, 2010. Recipients will be notified by June 15. The application should be filled out completely and mailed along with official transcripts and letters of recommendation to the Chairman of the West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute Scholarship Committee: Gary Henniger Chair, Scholarship Committee, West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute, Texas AgriLife Research & Extension Center,1102 East FM 1294 Lubbock, TX 79403-6603.

For more information on West Texas Agricultural Chemicals Institute at: http://wtaci.tamu.edu/

The WTACI scholarship announcement and application is available at: http://www.plainscotton.org/rkh/WTACI/WTACI_Scholarship_Announcement_2010.pdf

To download the letter mailed to universities go to: http://www.plainscotton.org/rkh/WTACI/WTACI_Scholarship_Letter_2010.pdf.