Dow AgroSciences is proud to sponsor the USA Rice Federation 2012 scholarship program for the third year. Applications are now available for students in rice-producing counties of the states in which they reside, and who will be high school seniors in the 2012-13 school year. USA Rice will award three scholarships totaling $8,500 based on entries promoting September as National Rice Month.

In 2011, Kori Caswell of Hannibal, Mo., was awarded the first-place scholarship; Haley Strutz of Cotton Plant, Ark., received the second-place award; and Luke MacFarlan of Siloam Springs, Ark., came in third.

“Dow AgroSciences is pleased to have the opportunity to once again support this outstanding program,” says Alejandra Chavez Green, portfolio marketing leader for rice herbicides at Dow AgroSciences. “We are honored to be able to promote the rice-growing industry and support students through much-needed scholarships.”



Students entering the scholarship contest will be required to develop and conduct an activity during National Rice Month that highlights U.S.-grown rice. Entries will be judged on creativity and impact in promoting rice during the month and the importance of rice in each entrant’s state. While students are encouraged to obtain applications before the end of the school year, actual promotions must be conducted during September and submitted by Oct. 12, 2012.

“The National Rice Month scholarship program plays a valuable role in highlighting the importance of U.S. rice production as well as the nutritional benefits of rice,” says Betsy Ward, USA Rice Federation president and CEO. “We are grateful to Dow AgroSciences for sponsoring this program and helping to encourage young people to learn more about the value of rice, both at home and throughout the country.”


The grand-prize winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship as well as a trip with a chaperone to the award ceremony at the 2012 USA Rice Outlook Conference this December in Coronado, Calif. The second-place winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship, and the third-place winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship. Interested participants may visit the USA Rice Federation website for a scholarship form and additional guidelines.