The AgStar Fund for Rural America, a corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, is offering $20,000 in scholarships to help students in rural areas continue their education. High school seniors throughout AgStar's 69-county service area in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin are encouraged to apply.

Seniors who plan to continue their education and pursue careers in agricultural fields are encouraged to apply for one of the 15 $1,000 scholarships available. In addition, the fund is awarding five $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors who have an agricultural background and plan to continue their education in any field of study. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1, 2012 through April 1, 2012.

Students will be awarded scholarships based on their academic record, vocational promise, community service and leadership qualities. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or better. There will be four students chosen from each of AgStar's five regions in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Applicants must be residents of one of the 69 counties within AgStar's territory:

Minnesota Counties: Aitkin, Anoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Itasca, Isanti, Jackson, Kanabec, Lake, LeSueur, McLeod, Martin, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Olmsted, Pine, Pipestone, Ramsey, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Todd, Wabasha, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona and Wright.

Wisconsin Counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Iron, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn.

Scholarships may be applied toward tuition at colleges, universities, technical or vocational schools. Students can get scholarship application forms online at http://agstar.com/enhancingamerica/fundforruralamerica/Pages/HighSchoolScholarships.aspx.

Source: AgStar